For Opinion, click here for View from the Racetrack Grandstand

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

MR - TOM RIDDLE CLAIMED 2 TIMES IN LAST 3 STARTS; STOMAN, CLAIMED IN 3 TIMES IN A ROW





Recently at  Monticello Raceway  there has been  a rash claiming being done with horses that have had long winning streak each  finding new homes. Some even changing barns weekly.

Two horses, Tom Riddle, with four wins in a row in $5,000 and $7,5000 claimers before winning again yesterday( July 30) in$12,500 company and Stoman, whose five race win skein in $12,500 claimers  was stopped on Tuesday when he was beaten in the final strides in $20,000 claiming event.

After a wire to wire triumph in $7500 claiming company for driver Jimmy Marohn, Jr.  on July 17 Tom Riddle was claimed by owner-trainer Andy Adamcyzk
.
Back in for the same tag the following week this time with Jimmy Devaux in the sulky, Tom Riddle continued to defeat his competition when he  scored by eight lengths in a 1:55 clocking. Then yesterday (July 30) in for the first time with a $12,500 tag, Tom Riddle defeated   Danny Gill’s 19-time winner Haroun Hanover again with Jimmy Devaux driving in a 1:54.1 clocking.

Despite the $5000 raise in price Tom Ridddle, a 6-year-old Cammibest stallion, was claimed by trainer Ron Ingrassia  for new owner Anthony Crescio.

Oddly, and perhaps interestingly, Tom Riddle, who did most of his winning for trainer Gill before being taken by Adamczky, turned back Gill’s stalwart pacer Haroun Hanover  and earned a new lifetime mark in doing so.

Gill won a later race on the card with Lockettejasper in 1:56 and when  he came to the winner’s circle for a photo he was asked about his former pacer, Tom Riddle, beating Haroun Hanover to which he quickly replied philosophically, “They’re both good horses and race their hearts out every time they’re on the track.”

Stoman’s situation was somewhat similar but he changed hands three consecutive weeks although yesterday he remained in trainer David Russo’s barn after  owner Barry Charles  took him the previous week (July 23) for $12,500.

On  July 9 Stoman was claimed by  Barry Franklin for $12,500 from Dominick Rafanelli. The following week , in for the same price, Rafanelli claimed Stoman back. Then one week later, on July 23, Russo’s client, Barry Charles, plunked down $12,500 and he became Stoman’s the third owner in three consecutive weeks.

Stoman’s claiming game was stopped on Tuesday afternoon when trainer Russo put the 7 year-old Market Report  gelding in a $20,000 claiming pace and after leading all the way  Stoman succumbed  to Tiny’s Million and driver Jimmy Taggart, Jr. in a 1:55.4 clocking. And  even though Stoman had changed barns weekly  each trainer had Jimmy Devaux handle the driving chores.

Currently Tom Riddle has won  nine times in 23 starts and Stoman has eight victories in 22 starts and next week may bring  yet more claiming action for the principles involved.  However, only time will tell.