By Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile
The Saturday night card at The Red Mile featured
sophomore pacers scrambling off in the Bluegrass Stakes, with $192,000 being
offered in the two colt divisions and a solo $122,000 dash for the fillies.
Freshmen glamour boys were also on highlight, with four divisions of the
Bluegrass being contested, totaling to $310,000 up for grabs.
The evening card was kicked off
with the first of a quartet of freshmen Bluegrass divisions, where Western
Vintage flew into the stretch and by all rivals to triumph in 1:49.4.
Doo Wop Hanover got the lead, with
A Plus Hanover getting away in second and Some Major Beach into third. Doo Wop
Hanover was unpressured past the quarter, timed in :27. Some Major Beach pulled
to the outside from third heading towards the three-eighths pole and was about
to clear the lead passing the half in :54 (:27).
Doo Wop Hanover fought back at the
pylons, parking Some Major Beach on their march around the far turn. From
sixth, Western Vintage took to the outside and rapidly made his way towards the
front. That’s My Opinion tracked his rush, as Western Vintage was within 2
lengths of the lead at three-quarters in 1:22.1 (:28.1).
Within the blink of an eye, Western
Vintage rolled to the front. Doo Wop Hanover was left in his wake, while Some
Major Beach was proving valiant in a first over journey, holding onto third and
On Golden Ponder angled off the pylons and began a bid. Western Vintage coasted
his way to the wire and scored in the first division of the freshmen Bluegrass
in 1:49.4 (:27.3). On Golden Ponder closed to finish second, Some Major Beach
was third and Somewhere Fancy finished fourth.
Western Vintage ($3.20) is a
two-year-old colt by Western Ideal, out of the mare Major Harmony by Art Major.
He is owned by Perry Soderberg, trained by Nancy Johansson and Yannick Gingras
was the driver.
“We had to change things up a
little bit, he went pretty hard up at Mohawk and he grabbed on a little bit, so
we tried to settle him down. This is a good track to race him from behind and
that’s the tactics we decided on,” owner Perry Soderberg said.
When asked about purchasing Western
Vintage for $7,000, Perry Soderberg said that, “Western Ideal is a stud in New
Jersey and the New Jersey Sires Stakes program hasn’t been the strongest, so
that’s probably the main reason. He did have a scar on an ankle behind that may
have gotten some people off of him, but those are the only two things I can
think of. He has a good pedigree and is a nice looking horse.”
Asked about returning for next
week’s International Stallion Series, Perry said that, “We have to talk about
it, but I don’t think so. We got the Breeders Crown coming up and that’s very
important.”
Division two of the freshmen stakes
was taken by Limelight Beach, sneaking up the pylons to pass a drifting So
Surreal to win in 1:49.4.
Limelight Beach got the lead, with
Sir Sam’s Z Tam getting away in second and Beat The Drum in third. Limelight
Beach led by the quarter in :27.1. Down the backstretch, Somestarsomewhere
pulled first over from sixth and began progressing in hopes of cover. That came
in So Surreal, who led the two wide flow in a charge after Limelight Beach in a
half-mile of :55.4 (:28.3).
So Surreal rushed up to the leader
and cleared command into the far turn. Limelight Beach was left in the pocket
and Somestarsomewhere was to fight his own battle first over. Ari Allstar was
tracking him second over, while Sir Sam’s Z Tam was locked at the pylons. So
Surreal led by three-quarters in 1:23.2 (:27.3).
So Surreal began to drift on his
way for home. Limelight Beach was left with open road at the pylons and he
swept by to take command. Somestarsomewhere was keeping up in third and Ari
Allstar was trying to surpass his cover in the final strides, but Limelight
Beach had enough to win in 1:49.4 (:26.2). So Surreal held on for second,
Somestarsomewhere was third and Ari Allstar finished fourth.
Limelight Beach ($20.00) is a
two-year-old gelding by Somebeachsomewhere, out of the mare Benear by Badlands
Hanover. He is owned by James Stambaugh, Milton Leeman and Charles Wingfield,
trained by Brian Brown and David Miller was in the bike.
“The track is very fast tonight. I
mean, they are getting over it pretty easily and putting up some big numbers,
but the horse raced well,” driver Dave Miller said. “When I first started
driving him this year, I thought a lot of him and I thought he could go with
any of them. He kind of went flat there [Pennsylvania Sires Stakes Final] for
awhile and there was no reason, he was sound and healthy, but he surely bounced
back tonight.”
An off the pace journey proved
right for Smack Talk in the third division, pacing past colts with ease to take
his Bluegrass in 1:50.4.
A quartet of freshmen launched off
the gate, but were led by Stevensville into the first turn. Gold Rocks floated
up alongside him and cleared the lead before the quarter, while
Somesizesomestyle was caught on the outside passed the first station, timed in
:27. Passing three-eighths, Smack Talk tipped to the outside from sixth and
began marching his way towards the lead. Stevensville was flushed out by Smack
Talk passing the half, which Somesizesomestyle posted in :54.3 (:27.3).
Into the far turn, Stevensville was
gradually making progress towards command. Gold Rocks was stuck in the pocket
and Sometimes Said was third over, prepared to follow Smack Talk three wide.
Somesizesomestyle was still on top at three-quarters in 1:23.2 (:28.4). Smack
Talk swung three wide into the lane and took command with ease. Sometimes Said
flew off cover as well and was applying pressure to the new leader. He was
drawing closer to Smack Talk entering the sixteenth pole, but the wire came in
favor of Smack Talk, holding off the favorite Sometimes Said in a 1:50.4
(:27.2) mile. He’s Got It was third and Wicked Business closed for fourth.
Smack Talk ($10.80) is a
two-year-old colt by Cam’s Card Shark, out of the mare Chippie Gabby by
Artiscape. He is owned by Daniel Haist and conditioner John Williamson, while
Ron Pierce was the pilot to Smack Talk’s maiden-breaking victory.
“Certainly was [great to break our
maiden], great track to break it on too,” trainer John Williamson said. “The
plan wasn’t to keep him a maiden, but with him, this track fits him to a tee.
He’s a big colt.”
Closing out the freshmen action was
Odds On Rhodonite, stalking a second over trip and sweeping
by horses into the
stretch to win in 1:50.2.
Carracci Hanover was sent for the
lead, with Somewhere In L A protecting the cones in second and Ideal Fashion
getting away in third. Ideal Magic was forced to go to the front with nowhere
to tuck in, so he applied pressure to Carracci Hanover through a :28 first
quarter. Ideal Magic cleared the lead entering the backstretch and was
uncontested as he sprinted to the half-mile pole in :54.4 (:26.4).
Ideal Fashion pulled to the outside
from fourth and was quickly making his way to Ideal Magic’s wheel into the far
turn. Odds On Rhodonite tracked him second over, while Somewhere In L A was
waiting for room to shake loose. He eventually tipped third over and had
nowhere to go at three-quarters in 1:22.3 (:27.4).
Ideal Fashion was grinding his way
to a narrow lead at the head of the stretch. Ideal Magic had no more to offer
at the inside, while Odds On Rhodonite made a big rally past his cover three
wide. Journeyman was closing down the center of the track from last and
Carracci Hanover had room to pace at the pylons. Down to the sixteenth pole,
Odds On Rhodonite had an unobtainable lead and went on to win in 1:50.2
(:27.4). Journeyman was second, Carracci Hanover was third and Pierce closed
for fourth.
Odds On Rhodonite ($17.80) is a
two-year-old colt by Western Ideal, out of the mare Odds On Helen by Real
Artist. He is owned by Mark Winship and Amy Giberson, trained by Nick Giberson
and Corey Callahan was the driver.
“The only thing they [the trainer]
told me going in was that he hadn’t been stretched out as of yet,” driver Corey
Callahan said. “He said put him into the race, race him like he’s supposed to
be in here and that’s what we did and he proved he was supposed to be in there.
I got a really good trip out of it [the fast fractions], he did the work late and
held on for the win.”
Pacer of the Year and glamour
boy-division leader Captaintreacherous dazzled spectators at the same track his
sire Somebeachsomewhere did, sweeping to the top through a :52.4 half-mile and
completing the final half of the mile to claim victory in 1:47.1.
Beach Memories was sent hard off of
the gate, while Captaintreacherous floated into second and Emeritus Maximus was
racing in third. Apprentice Hanover was fourth as Beach Memories led by the
quarter in :26.4. At three-eighths, Captaintreacherous pulled to the outside
and cleared the lead just before the half-mile station, clicked in a remarkable
:52.4 (:26).
Apprentice Hanover made his shot to
enter contention into the far turn, moving first over after Captaintreacherous.
Beach Memories was riding the pocket and Emeritus Maximus was fourth at
three-quarters in 1:20.2 (:27.3).
Jaws began to drop at the presented
fractions from Captaintreacherous. He was getting separation from Beach
Memories in second and Emeritus Maximus had taken over third. Beach Memories
made one last attempt, lunging after Captaintreacherous into the sixteenth
pole, but his will-to-win prevailed in a 1:47.1 score, a lifetime mark for
Captaintreacherous.
Captaintreacherous ($2.10) is a
three-year-old colt by Somebeachsomewhere, out of the mare Worldly Treasure by
Artsplace. He is owned by Captaintreacherous Racing, trained by Tony Alagna and
Tim Tetrick was in the bike.
“I just wanted to be in control and
I settled in there [in the pocket],” driver Tim Tetrick said. “Dave was putting
up pretty good fractions, I could have probably followed him, but I knew I’d
have to pull going into the last turn. I would let him get there and do what he
wants on the front and let him set the pace in the last turn. It was a fun
ride.”
“They don’t come along very often
[special horses], he’s something special to watch. I know I get chills when I
sit behind him, so I bet he’s as fun to watch, too. He usually lets them get to
him before he fights. Tonight was the first time I called on him at the top of
the lane and he took right off, he really didn’t wait on them today,” Tetrick
also said.
“He had a really good week and was
good in Indiana last week and was coming into this race in shape,” trainer Tony
Alagna said.
Questioned about the Meadowlands’
Free For All series, Tony said, “That’s a possibility if everything goes well.
What a great way it would be to end the year, racing against aged horses and
give him a chance to trip out and see where he stacks up against those, especially
going into his four-year-old year.”
The only horse to defeat
Captaintreacherous this season, Sunshine Beach, defeated the second grouping of
glamour boy pacers in a 1:48.2 wire-to-wire victory.
Sunshine Beach got the top, while
Resistance Futile sat in second and Odds On Equuleus rode the rail to get into
third. Wake Up Peter was racing fourth as Sunshine Beach passed the quarter in
:27.4. No one tried to contest Sunshine Beach, has John Campbell had a firm
hold on him through a :55 (:27.1) half-mile.
Wake Up Peter edged to the outside
as Twilight Bonfire was looking for cover entering the far turn, but Wake Up
Peter too was in hopes of flushing out bait. Odds On Equuleus took the trap and
flushed first over, coming to within 2 lengths of the lead. Sunshine Beach held
command at three-quarters, timed in 1:22.2 (:27.2).
Sunshine Beach began to open up on
the field into the stretch. Resistance Futile was racing in second and was
attempting to slingshot by Sunshine Beach. Wake Up Peter had taken third from
Odds On Equueleus, but the battle was between Sunshine Beach and Resistance
Futile, in which Sunshine Beach emerged with glory, winning in 1:48.2 (:26).
Resistance Futile was second, Wake Up Peter was third and Odds On Equueleus was
fourth.
Sunshine Beach ($4.80) is a
three-year-old colt by Somebeachsomewhere, out of the mare Light Up by
Artsplace. He is owned by Hudson Standardbred Inc., Conrad Leber and Diane
Bertrand, trained by Mark Steacy and John Campbell guided him to the win.
“That’s about as reasonable as your
going to get in this class [:55 half-mile],” driver John Campbell said. “He
felt real strong and I didn’t have to start him up that hard to make the front.
He raced really well, but had to hold off a good horse in Resistance Futile. He
kept coming [Resistance Futile], but my horse dug in and went down until the
wire. It was his first start in three weeks, so he’ll be stronger next week.”
When asked about his Sunshine
Beach’s conflict with Captaintreacherous, Campbell said that, “I’m sure it’s
going to materialize [their rivalry], either next week if they get into the
same division or in the Breeders Crown, hopefully. You can’t take anything away
from Captaintreacherous, he’s certainly one of our all-time greats. This horse
has beat him once and it can happen again.”
The lone dash of the Bluegrass for
sophomore filly pacers was taken in a dramatic 1:49 effort from Shebestingin,
circling by horses three wide as blazing fractions were being set.
In her attempt to leave, Ms Caila J
Fra got a little rough-gaited and went off stride as the field marched to the
first turn. They were led by Aunt Caroline briefly, as Power Pack Hanover was
floating her way to the top. Mistresstothestars was wide briefly, but took to
the inside as Power Pack Hanover led the field through a quarter in :26.3.
Belle Boyd tracked Power Pack
Hanover in her sweep to the front, but could not clear heading down the
backstretch. The physical quarrel up front turned the half-mile into a sprint.
Mistresstothestars entered the flow second over and Shebestingin went third
over as Power Pack Hanover put away Belle Boyd through a :52.4 half (:26.1).
Mistresstothestars went three wide,
as did Shebestingin behind, to get closer to the faltering leader, Power Pack
Hanover. Mistresstothestars was first over heading to three quarters, while
Shebestingin was three wide and ready to fly. Three-quarters was timed in
1:21.2 (:28.3).
Shebestingin took the lead into the
stretch and kicked away by open lengths from Parlee Beach closing into second.
Authorize was behind a wall of horses, weaving her way into third and Aunt
Caroline, off the pocket ride, was in fourth as Shebestingin won impressively,
scoring in 1:49 (:28.3). Parlee Beach was second, Authorize was third and Aunt
Caroline finished fourth.
Shebestingin ($5.40) is a
three-year-old filly by Bettor’s Delight, out of the mare Armbro Tussle by
Abercrombie. She is owned by Val D’or Farms, Ted Gewertz and L & L
Devisser, trained by Joe Holloway and David Miller was in the bike.
“It worked out great, David gave
her a great trip,” trainer Joe Holloway said. “When Ms Caila J Fra made a
break, it changed the complexion and John’s filly [Power Pack Hanover] was a
little grabby and just kept going, but we were in a great spot. Once she had
the lead at the head of the stretch, I felt confident. We trained her very
tight, but it’s always tough to train one for race conditions and she was going
to be out the whole mile, so she raced very good.”
Joe Holloway also confirmed that
Shebestingin would return for the Glen Garnsey Memorial next week.
Live racing at The Red Mile
continues tomorrow, with the first matinee card of the Grand Circuit meeting.
Tomorrow’s 13-race card is headlined by the $261,700 Bluegrass three-year-old
colt trot, with the three-year-old fillies co-featuring in two splits for
$173,200 total. Also contesting tomorrow are the eliminations for both the
Allerage Pace and the Allerage Trot. Post time for tomorrow’s card is slated
for 1 PM. Please note that for the rest of the meeting, The Red Mile will host
race cards with a 1 PM post time.
