By Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile
LEXINGTON,
KY— Freshmen colt trotters occupied the Friday night card at The Red Mile, with
four divisions of the $396,000 Bluegrass Stakes contested on September 26.
Habitat and The Bank put in the quickest miles of the four divisions contested.
William
Wellwood champion Habitat once again reigned supreme, this time by ¾ lengths
over Honor And Serve and Cruzado Dela Noche in 1:53.4.
The
early tempo setter was Honor And Serve, leading Canappealformore and Habitat
through a :28.2 first quarter. Yannick Gingras soon gave Habitat the cue to
circle by his foes, clearing the field slightly after a :57.4 (:29.2) half.
Boots
N Chains gradually progressed to Habitat’s wheel around the far turn. Habitat,
through three-quarters in 1:26.3 (:28.4), began to draw away from his
competitors. Cruzado Dela Noche, traveling second over, fanned off cover and
began a bid down the center of the course, while Honor And Serve snuck out of
the pocket. Yet, they were runner-up as Habitat held on in a lifetime-best of
1:53.4 (:27.1).
A
son of Conway Hall-Habit’s Best-Muscles Yankee, he’s owned by Burke Racing
Stable, Out Horse Cents Stables and Weaver Bruscemi, trained by Ron Burke and
driven by Yannick Gingras.
“I think he was as
sharp, but he was maybe too sharp,” Yannick Gingras said in regards to
Habitat’s margin of victory. “He was a little keen tonight. Usually, he lets me
do what I want with him. He's usually two fingers to drive, but he was a little
wound up tonight, and I think that cost him a little bit of energy.
“Coming to the top of
the stretch, I knew I had a big last quarter left in him, but Honor and Serve
and that horse Dave was driving [Cruzado Dela Noche] are two quality horses as
well. He was 1-5, but it was no 'gimme,' there was good horses in here.”
Pulling first over nearing the half, The Bank
gradually grew closer to the front and eventually passed Piercewave Hanover in
a 1:53.4 mile.
Sent for the top was One
Direction, with Piercewave Hanover taking the pocket. Past the quarter in
:28.3, Piercewave Hanover swept to the top. Yannick Gingras tried to ration his
speed as he trotted the half-mile in :56.2 (:27.4).
Around the far turn, The Bank began to charge
towards pacesetter. He remained 3 lengths off the lead through a 1:25.1 (:28.4)
third quarter.
Shortening in stride,
Piercewave Hanover’s lead slowly diminished. The Bank was rallying down the
center of the track and went by Piercewave Hanover in the final strides to win
by a ½ length in 1:53.4 (:28.3), a lifetime best.
Earning $64,810 this
season, the son of Donato Hanover-Lantern Kronos-Viking Kronos is owned by
Christina Takter and Goran Falk and is trained and driven by Jimmy Takter. Sent
off the public choice, he paid $4.80 to win.
“I know my horse is extremely honest and I haven't
used him at all,” Jimmy Takter said. “I kind of got a little bit messed up at
the start; I didn't want to rush him out of the gate. He can leave very good,
but I just felt like I wanted to race him from behind because he's not really
sharp enough for cutting it.”
Southwind Stryker defeated Peter Haughton winner
Centurion Atm in a 1:53.4 effort.
The
lead was occupied by Walter White, who led Whataworkout, Mercury Fashion,
Centurion Atm, and Southwind Stryker respectively past a :28.3 first quarter.
He remained in control through a :57.3 (:29) half, but Centurion Atm was
grinding towards him first over.
Southwind
Stryker tracked Centurion Atm around the far turn as he battled with Walter
White for control. After a 1:26 (:28.2) third quarter, Centurion Atm gained
control.
Centurion
Atm was trying to gain separation from Southwind Stryker, but instead began to
brace for his challenge. The two were stride for stride in the final hundred
yards and at the line, Southwind Stryker had a nose on Centurion Atm, with
Wicker Hanover finishing fourth, but placed third due to a lapped-on break by
third-place finisher, placed fourth, Whataworkout.
The
son of Muscle Hill-Soxeelady-Conway Hall paid $10 as he triumphed over the 1/5
favorite. He’s owned by Brad Maxwell, Paul Van Camp, Herb Liverman, and,
trained by Brad Maxwell, and was driven by Tim Tetrick. Breaking his maiden,
Southwind Stryker established a lifetime best of 1:53.4, and has earned $99,641
lifetime.
“That
horse that I was following [Centurion Atm] has some go,” driver Tim Tetrick
said. “My horse has been racing, and his [Ake Svanstedt’s] horse had a big
break and only one qualifier, but my horse had to earn it. If I had been third
over, it would have been tough to catch him, but the trip worked out
perfectly.”
Billy
Flynn remained undefeated after a game stretch battle with 8/5 second-choice
Muscle Diamond, traveling wire-to-wire in 1:55.4.
Taking
the lead was Gabe The Bear Dean as the octet trotted into the first turn. Billy
Flynn tracked him from second, with Suit And Tie traveling third. Pilot Brett
Miller gave the cue for Billy Flynn to circle by the 30-1 shot, clearing
control in a :29.2 first quarter.
Billy
Flynn turned the march to the half into a stroll, reaching that station in
:58.1 (:29.4). Suit And Tie broke from third, causing confusion with
Progression and Muscle Diamond. Regardless, Muscle Diamond began his charge towards
favored Billy Flynn entering the far turn. The two hooked up to duel at
three-quarters in 1:28.3 (:30.2).
The
battling Billy Flynn and Muscle Diamond edged 3 lengths clear of Progression
trotting in third. As Muscle Diamond appeared to get a nose in front, Billy
Flynn fought back at the inside and managed, not only to retake the lead, but
extend his margin of victory to a length over Muscle Diamond in 1:55.4 (:27.1).
A
$2.80 winner, Billy Flynn, a son of Cantab Hall-Zeta Jones-Enjoy Lavec, is
owned by Bender Sweden Inc., trained by Staffan Lind and driven by Brett
Miller. He has now earned $312,057 this season.
“He’s
done everything right so far,” trainer Staffan Lind said. “I hope he can stay
on track. It’s a long season with a lot of races, so whenever you can steal one
is good.”
Uncle Lasse, a
full-brother to Dan Patch champion Shake It Cerry, was victorious in 1:54.1
over Guess Whos Back.
Getting away in the
pocket, Uncle Lasse soon pulled two wide and circled around early pacesetter
Iron. After a
quarter in :28.2, Uncle Lasse cleared the front. He was
uncontested through a :57.3 (:29.1) half and strolled to three-quarters in 1:27
(:29.2).
Sugarmakesmecrazy began
to pursuit Uncle Lasse, with Guess Whos Back following second over. Guess Whos
Back managed to swing off his cover and take second, while Sugarmakesmecrazy
chased in third. Uncle Lasse won by a length in 1:54.1 (:27.1), a lifetime
best.
Owned by Solveig’s
Racing Partners, trained by Jimmy Takter, and driven by Ron Pierce, he paid
$4.60 to win. He has earned $203,279 this season.
“He
was super sharp, a little on edge,” Ron Pierce said. “He's good feeling colt, a
little edgy, but his gait was flawless and he had plenty of trot.”
Racing resumes on
Saturday, September 27 with the $331,000 Bluegrass for two-year-old colt
pacers, $185,200 Bluegrass for three-year-old colt pacers, and the $146,600
Bluegrass for three-year-old filly pacers. Post time is scheduled for
7:00pmEDT.
