By Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile
The
historic fortnight of Grand Circuit racing at The Red Mile came to an end on
Sunday, with the track’s signature event, the Kentucky Futurity, highlighting
the grey and rainy afternoon. The older horses were in the shadow of the
spotlight, with the four divisions squaring off in the Allerage Opens.
A confident
Royalty For Life, cruising around the muddy Lexington oval, won the first
elimination for the $527,000 Kentucky Futurity in 1:53.3.
Floating
towards the lead was Royalty For Life entering the first turn, while Creatine
was tracking his helmet from second and Master Of Law tried to get into
contention in third, but broke in his attempt. Royalty For Life led by the
quarter in :28. He trotted with no adversaries alongside to the half in an easy
:56.2 (:28.2).
E L Rocket
spent the backstretch trying to flush out cover, proving to be an unsuccessful
mission. Yannick Gingras gave him the cue to trot first over around the far
turn and he would be on Royalty For Life’s wheel at the three-quarter pole,
reached in 1:25.2 (:29).
Royalty For
Life wasn’t asked for anything into the stretch. He was trotting easily on the
lead, while Creatine was trying to shake lose from second and E L Rocket was
not progressing in third. Royalty For Life went on to win the first elimination
under a hand drive, in a 1:53.3 (:28.1) mile. Creatine was second, E L Rocket
was third, Punxsutawney was fourth and Home Turf closed out the qualifying
quintet.
Royalty For
Life ($3.60) is a three-year-old colt by RC Royalty, out of the mare Bourbon ‘n
Grits by Donerail. He is owned by Al Ross, Ray Campbell and Paul Fontaine,
trained by George Ducharme and Brian Sears was in the bike behind the
Hambletonian champion.
A change in
tactics was a successful move for Your So Vain, leaving the gate on the sloppy
going and being put on the lead at the half. He made his foes chase him around
the final half of the race, as he took the second elimination in 1:54.4.
Lindy’s Tru
Grit was the first to the pylons, securing command. Spider Blue Chip and Your
So Vain left with him as the field entered the first turn. Spider Blue Chip
ventured his way to the front just before the quarter, while Your So Vain
tucked into third. Spider Blue Chip led by the quarter in :29.4.
High Bridge
never saw the pylons and was first over in fifth entering the backstretch. He
flushed out All Laid Out as cover at the three-eighths pole, which then forced
Your So Vain out of third. Now first over, Your So Vain sprinted towards Spider
Blue Chip and took command through a leisure half of :59 (:29.1).
All Laid
Out was now left with the task to move first over entering the far turn. He
came up to Your So Vain’s wheel at three-quarters, in 1:26.2 (:27.2). Spider
Blue Chip was locked in the pocket down the stretch. Lindy’s Tru Grit had
entered the flow around the turn and was fanning three wide with a bid. Spider
Blue Chip managed to get some room to shake loose into the sixteenth pole, but
Your So Vain had already secured the victory in 1:54.4 (:28.2). Spider Blue
Chip finished second, All Laid Out was third, Lindy’s Tru Grit was fourth and
Wheeling N Dealin finished fifth.
Your So
Vain ($3.60) is a three-year-old colt by Donato Hanover, out of the mare Tennis
Lover by Muscles Yankee. He is owned by P G Van Camp, trained by Bradley
Maxwell and Tim Tetrick was in the sulky.
Listed
below was the field for the second heat of the Kentucky Futurity.
PP-Horse
Name-Driver-Trainer
1-Your So Vain-Tim
Tetrick-Bradley Maxwell
2-Royalty For Life-Brian
Sears-George Ducharme
3-Spider Blue Chip-Ron
Pierce-Chuck Sylvester
4-Creatine-Mike
Lachance-Bob Stewart
5-E L Rocket-Yannick
Gingras-Ron Burke
6-All Laid Out-David
Miller-Noel Daley
7-Punxsutawney-Corey
Callahan-John Butenschoen
*8-Lindy’s Tru
Grit-Scott Zeron-Frank Antonacci
*9-Wheeling N
Dealin-Sylvain Filion-R. Dustin Jones
10-Home Turf-John
Campbell-Noel Daley
* Dignifies
scratched horses from the second heat of the Kentucky Futurity.
Within the
blink of an eye, a late charging Creatine overtook race leader Royalty For Life
to upset in the 121st running of the Kentucky Futurity, winning in
1:53.2.
Royalty For
Life got the lead, with Spider Blue Chip trotting into the pocket and Your So
Vain was racing in third. Royatly For Life led by the quarter in :27.4. All
Laid Out made a move first over at the three-eighths pole and flushed Creatine
as cover. Creatine then got cover from Your So Vain as Royalty For Life
sprinted to the half in :55.4 (:28).
Your So
Vain was slowly making his way to the leader into the far turn. Creatine was
getting a second over trip, while Spider Blue Chip was gapping in the pocket
third. Brian Sears pulled the plugs on Royalty For Life as Your So Vain wasn’t
leaving without a fight through a 1:24 (:28.1) third panel.
Royalty For
Life had a stampede charging him in the stretch. Spider Blue Chip managed to
shake loose and split Your So Vain and Royalty For Life entering the eighth
pole. Creatine fanned three wide, while third-over All Laid Out edged four wide.
Creatine powered to the top within a matter of strides, soon to be under
pressure from an upset-minded All Laid Out, but Creatine held off his challenge
to light up the toteboard in 1:53.2 (:29.2). All Laid Out finished second,
Spider Blue Chip was third and Your So Vain finished fourth.
Creatine
($33.80) is a three-year-old colt by Andover Hall, out of the mare Berry Nice
Muscles by Muscles Yankee. He is owned by Diamond Creek Racing, trained by Bob
Stewart and Mike Lachance was in the bike to win back to back Kentucky
Futurities.
Ma Chere
Hall took the first heat of the $293,000 Kentucky Filly Futurity over an
upgraded-good surface, trotting the mile in 1:52.4.
Mistery
Woman and Classic Martine were stride for stride at the gate’s dispatch. Shared
Past went on a gallop at the gate’s dispersal, as well. The two battled for
command into the first turn and Classic Martine claimed the lead. Ma Chere Hall
was parked in fourth and progressed her way to the lead passing the quarter.
Mistery Woman was racing in third and Frau Blucher was fourth through a :28.1
opening quarter.
Frau
Blucher made her pursuit after Ma Chere Hall before the half, pulling first
over and taking command within a matter of strides just passing the half-mile
pole, timed in :56.1 (:28). Frau Blucher was the new leader into the far turn,
leaving Ma Chere Hall with the pocket trip and Classic Martine racing in third.
Handover Belle was providing dead cover, first over from fifth, forcing To
Dream On to move three wide before three-quarters. Ma Chere Hall began to edge
out of the pocket after Frau Blucher at three-quarters, timed in 1:24 (:27.4).
Ma Chere
Hall slingshot passed Frau Blucher into the stretch. Classic Martine edged off
of the pylons and was quickly closing in on Ma Chere Hall. Mistery Woman was
racing in third and Frau Blucher was giving chase in fourth. Ma Chere Hall
fought off Classic Martine’s challenge and dug in to win the first heat of the
Filly Futurity, in 1:52.4 (:28.4). Classic Martine was second, Mistery Woman
finished third and Frau Blucher was fourth.
Ma Chere
Hall ($12.80) is a three-year-old filly by Deweycheatumnhowe, out of the mare
Margarita Hall by Conway Hall. She is owned by Walnut Hall Ltd., Aldebaran Park
and Joe Sbrocco, trained by Jonas Czernyson and Corey Callahan guided the filly
to victory.
“She’s been
really good,” driver Corey Callahan said. “I was able to get to the lead and
get some sensible fractions. Ronnie [Pierce on Frau Blucher] came at me hard
and I turned him lose; I figured I’d save her [Ma Chere Hall] as much as I
could for the second race. I popped her out there [in the stretch] and held off
Timmy’s filly [Classic Martine]; Timmy has a really nice filly. Ma Chere digs
in through the lane, so she’s impressed me every week.”
Listed
below was the field for the second heat of the Kentucky Filly Futurity:
PP-Horse
Name-Driver-Trainer
1-Ma Chere Hall-Corey
Callahan-Jonas Czernyson
2-Classic Martine-Tim
Tetrick-Chris Oakes
3-Mistery Woman-David
Miller-Jonas Czernyson
*4-Frau Blucher-Ron
Pierce-Chris Oakes
5-To Dream On-Jimmy
Takter-Jimmy Takter
6-Time To Kill-John
Campbell-Ross Croghan
*7-Handover Belle-Mike
Lachance-Tony Alagna
*8-Perfect Alliance-Andy
Miller-Robert Bencal
9-Shared Past-Yannick
Gingras-Ron Burke
* Dignifies
that the horse scratched out of the second heat.
Ma Chere
Hall trotted a tough first over mile in the second heat, but To Dream On
tracked her cover and flew in the final stages to pull off the 13-1 upset in
the Filly Futurity.
Shared Past
sprinted off the wings of the gate and dictated the terms entering the first
turn. Classic Martine got away in second and Ma Chere Hall was racing in third.
Mistery Woman got away in fourth and To Dream On was at her flank, parked out
to the quarter. Shared Past was ruthless on command, trotting the opening panel
in :26.4.
To Dream On
was floating in the center of the pack heading to the half, desperate for
cover. Ma Chere Hall took the bait and began a pursuit towards Shared Past
through a :54.2 (:27.3) half. To Dream On was breathing on Corey Callahan’s
neck, anxious to move three wide before three-quarters. Shared Past remained
with the advantage over Ma Chere Hall as the two battled past three-quarters in
1:23 (:28.3).
Ma Chere
Hall took a short lead over Shared Past into the stretch. To Dream On was
racing in third and soon fanned off her cover and lifted flight. Within a
matter of strides, To Dream On had taken command and kicked away to a 2-length
lead. Shared Past was left in her wake, while Ma Chere Hall was giving chase.
To Dream On was a confident winner in her final outing, scoring in 1:52.1
(:29.1). Ma Chere Hall was second, Shared Past was third and Time To Kill
finished fourth.
To Dream On
($28.00) is a three-year-old filly by Credit Winner, out of the mare Satin
Pillows by Conway Hall. She is owned by Marvin Katz, Al Libfeld and Sam
Goldband and is trained and driven by Jimmy Takter.
“She kept
being a little grabby like she was in the first heat,” driver and trainer Jimmy
Takter said. “I had a bad horse in front of me [in the first heat] that didn’t
take me anywhere, so she was too grabby there. I kept her on the outside and as
long as she didn’t get excited, then I got good cover from Corey [Callahan on
Ma Chere Hall]. I was waiting, and waiting and waiting because she had been
having problems this year and this win was very sweet for her. It had been one
long road with her and thank God I have really good owners. I know she is a
super horse.”
“Jimmy and
I just agreed out here on the racetrack that’s it, she’s retired,” co-owner
Marvin Katz said. “Jimmy suggested it and I’m all for that.”
Arch
Madness proved that his victory last week was no fluke, returning to win the
$172,200 Allerage Open Trot in 1:51.3.
Quick Deal
blasted off the gate, while My Mvp left and was being urged to take command.
Quick Deal cleared the front around the first turn, with Sevruga getting away
in third. Quick Deal led by the opening quarter in :27.1.
Mister
Herbie committed to the first over position heading passed three-eighths, but
he managed to flush out cover in the form of Arch Madness. Arch Madness edging
off the cones then forced Sevruga to take to the outside from third, so Sevruga
led the two wide flow passed the half in :55 (:27.4).
Sevruga
took a short lead from Quick Deal midway around the far turn. Arch Madness
began to tip three wide, Mister Herbie went four wide, Market Share five wide
and Guccio was towards the dead center of the track. Sevruga awaited the
cavalcade behind him at three-quarters in 1:24 (:29).
Arch
Madness looked Sevruga in the eye heading down the stretch and overtook him
with ease. Mister Herbie was coming strong at Arch Madness into second and
Market Share was rallying well down the center of the track into third, but it
was a two horse race down to the wire. Arch Madness had the lead at the inside;
Mister Herbie was trying to surpass him on the outside. At the line, Arch
Madness held command to win the Allerage in 1:51.3 (:27.3). Mister Herbie was
second, Market Share was third and Guccio finished fourth.
Arch
Madness ($15.00) is a nine-year-old gelding by Balanced Image, out of the mare
Armbro Archer by S J’s Photo. He is owned by Marc Goldberg and Willow Pond LLC
and is trained and driven by Trond Smedshammer.
The
downpour commenced for the $81,000 Allerage Mare Pace, in which a second over
journey provided Shelliscape with a 1:51.2 victory.
Drop The
Ball went for the lead, with Monkey On My Wheel getting away in second and
Rocklamation in third. Drop The Ball led by the quarter in :27.2. Drop The Ball
was able to stroll to the half uncontested, doing so in :56.3 (:29.1).
Rocklamation
tipped first over from third into the far turn, while Shelliscape tracked her
cover. Camille entered the flow third over as Drop The Ball still had the lead
passing three-quarters in 1:24.1 (:27.3).
Corey
Callahan pulled the plugs on Drop The Ball into the stretch, but she quickly
began to falter. Monkey On My Wheel tried to sneak up the pylons to take the
lead, but the outer tier had the advantage. Shelliscape fanned off of her cover
and surpassed Rocklamation into the sixteenth pole, while Camille was storming
down the center of the track for minor honors. Shelliscape got up to win the
Allerage in 1:51.2 (:27.1), with Camille finishing second, Rocklamation third
and Drop The Ball faded to fourth.
Shelliscape
($13.80) is a four-year-old mare by Artiscape, out of the mare Shell I Scoot by
Direct Scooter. She is owned by Bamond Racing LLC, trained by Richard “Nifty”
Norman and Tim Tetrick was in the bike.
After
another rain delay, the Allerage Open Pace went to post. Golden Receiver had
sprinted off the gate and pulled off the upset in a wire-to-wire 1:50 mile.
Golden
Reciever got command, with Bolt The Duer racing in second and Clear Vision
getting away in third. Golden Receiver kicked away to a 2 length lead passed
the quarter in :28.1. He got to the half-mile uncontested and in front in :55.3
(:27.2).
Clear
Vision pulled first over as Sweet Lou was looking to flush cover from fourth
entering the far turn. A Rocknroll Dance was third over, but quickly dropping
back around the turn. Golden Receiver held command, but Clear Vision was right
at his throat, passing three-quarters in 1:22.4 (:27.1).
Clear
Vision took a short lead from Golden Receiver in the stretch. Bolt The Duer was
giving chase in third and Sweet Lou was to his flank in fourth as they watched
Golden Receiver emerge from the pylons with the lead. In a display of soul and
athleticism, the eight-year-old Golden Receiver won the Allerage Open Pace in 1:50
(:27.1). Clear Vision finished second, Sweet Lou was third and Bolt The Duer
settled for fourth.
Golden
Receiver ($27.80) is an eight-year-old gelding by Village Jove, out of the mare
Royal Gold by Towner’s Big Guy. He is owned by Our Horse Cents Stables and Nina
Simmonds, trained by Mark Harder and Corey Callahan drove him to victory.
Maven
traveled a first over journey to win the $76,000 Allerage Mare Trot in 1:52.3.
Real Babe
was chasing the gate entering the first turn, while Check Me Out was chasing
Real Babe. Real Babe cleared command, but Check Me Out wanted the front and got
it at the quarter, in :27.4. Check Me Out soon had 3 lengths on the field
entering the backstretch. Real Babe was in second, Maven was racing third and
Bax Of Life was fourth as Check Me Out trotted to the half unchallenged in :55
(:27.1).
Maven made
her move and pulled first over into the far turn. Bax Of Life was tracking her
cover from fourth as she was slowly pursuing the leader. Check Me Out remained
in control at three-quarters, timed in 1:23.3 (:28.3).
Maven began
to drift in her bid at the top of the stretch. Check Me Out was in an all out
drive, desperately holding onto command. Maven, though veering to the right,
continued progressing towards the lead. The two of them equaled strides into
the sixteenth pole and it came down to Maven’s nose, going up in the air to nip
Check Me Out in a 1:52.3 (:29) thriller. Bax Of Life was third and Real Babe
finished fourth.
Maven
($3.20) is a four-year-old mare by Glidemaster, out of the mare M Stewart by
American Winner. She is owned by William Donovan, trained by Jonas Czernyson
and Yannick Gingras was the pilot.
The
Kentucky Futurity card also featured a race under saddle as an exhibition
event, going for $16,000. Helene Gregory aboard Master Pine was crowned
victorious in a 1:58.4 mile.
Harlequin
and Riina Rekila set the tempo early on, while Chinese Cuisine was being asked
to take command with Tina Duer. Chinese Cuisine had cleared the lead just
passed the quarter, timed in :30.2. Master Pine was sent after the lead from
third nearing the three-eighths pole. He cleared the lead from Chinese Cuisine
and trotted away to a three-length lead at the half in :59 (:28.3).
Master Pine
held his strong lead into the far turn. Chinese Cuisine was giving chase in
second and A Penny Earned began circling by horses into third. Master Pine
wasn’t being asked for much as he held command at three-quarters in 1:28.1
(:29.1). A Penny Earned slowly drew closer as the wire came near, but Master
Pine had enough to hold on and win the race under saddle in 1:58.4 (:30.3). A
Penny Earned was second and Chinese Cuisine was third.
Master Pine
is a ten-year-old gelding by Master Lavec, out of the mare Pine Career by Pine
Chip. He is owned by Mark Moger and Albert Delia Jr., trained by Julie Miller
and Helene Gregory was aboard.
