By Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile
LEXINGTON, KY—
Sophomore colt trotters prepped for the $500,000 Kentucky Futurity, slated for
Sunday, October 5th, in two divisions of the $187,200 Bluegrass
Stakes on Sunday, September 28th.
Divisional-leader
Father Patrick floated off the gate, took control in the backstretch, and
effortlessly trotted to a 1:50.4 victory over Lightning Force.
The field was led
by Lightning Force, who set a :28.1 opening split. Entering the backstretch, Yannick
Gingras edged Father Patrick off the pylons and quickly claimed the lead. He
was uncontested through a :56 (:27.4) half and 1:23.3 (:27.3) third quarter.
Gingras piloted
Father Patrick through the stretch with a hand drive, while Lightning Force chased
in second and Martiniwithmuscle in third. Father Patrick crossed the finish
line in 1:50.4 (:27.1).
Owned by Father
Patrick Stable, trained by Jimmy Takter, and driven by Yannick Gingras, the son
of Cantab Hall-Gala Dream-Enjoy Lavec paid $2.10 to win. Father Patrick has
$1,927,508 in career earnings.
“He’s one of a
kind; I’ve never been around a horse even close to his kind,” trainer Jimmy
Takter said.
“I’ve got to give
that horse [Nuncio] a lot of credit,” Takter also said, commenting on Nuncio’s
performance earlier in the card. “He’s been chasing this horse [Father Patrick]
for two years, and he’s still keeping his spirits up. He’s a fantastic horse.”
Nuncio, getting
away fourth in the early stages, patiently progressed towards the front and left
his foes in the dust with a 1:50.4 victory in the other division of the
Bluegrass.
Hillustrious and
Datsyuk contested for the top, while Damfoolrmillionair got away third. Datsyuk
cleared the lead after a :27.4 quarter. Hillustrious was anxious in the pocket
as Dastyuk set a half in :54.4 (:27).
Entering the far
turn, Hillustrious sprung out of the pocket and took control as Datsyuk backed
out of the race. Nuncio had begun an overland journey and was up to challenge
Hillustrious through a 1:23.3 (:28.4) third quarter.
Under minimal
encouragement, Nuncio trotted by and away from Hillustrious, who battled for
second between Mr Lindy and Damfoolrmillionair. Nuncio won by 6 ½ lengths over
Hillustrious, Mr Lindy, and Damfoolrmillionair in 1:50.4 (:27.1).
A son of Andover
Hall-Nicole Isabelle-Lindy Lane, he is owned by Stall Tz Inc., trained by Jimmy
Takter and driven by John Campbell. His 1:50.4 mile is a lifetime best, and he
has now bankrolled $1,271,470 in his career. He paid $2.40 to win.
“Before, if you
started him [Nuncio] up at the gate, you couldn’t stop him,” driver John
Campbell said. “His manners have gotten so much better; he relaxes in the hole.
They were going hot on the front, so when I did move him, he trotted up there
comfortably, and trotted home well within himself.
I was pretty sure, coming
off the turn for home, that he was going to win.”
Live racing will
resume on Thursday, October 2nd with the $300,000 International
Stallion Series for two-year-old filly trotters. The entry box will be open
until 9:30amEDT on Monday, September 29th. Post time for that card
is scheduled for 1:00pmEDT.
Race replays of action from The Red Mile can be
found on our YouTube channel: Red Mile Harness.
