Shake It Cerry proved supreme once again, winning the last
major stake of the season for the aged trotting mares, capturing the $200,000
TVG Mares Trotting Championship. Released as the even-money
second-choice, Shake It Cerry was gathered off the gate by her pilot Dave
Miller, while the 4/5 favorite Bee A Magician moved to the lead early in the
mile. The 2013 Horse of the Year reached the quarter in 27.2 and as soon
as the field straightened up on the backstretch, the 2014 Trotter of the Year
made her move for the lead and Shake It Cerry took charge three-eighths of a
mile into the race. The four year old mare reach the half in a sharp
55.4, before getting a third-quarter breather, hitting three quarters in 1:25,
with Handover Bell committed first over, Classic Martine in the outer flow and
Bee A Magician pinned in behind the leader. But Shake It Cerry was under a
hand drive at the head of the stretch and when Miller called on his mare, the
response was instantaneous and she dominated through the stretch, the result
never in doubt and she scored decisively in 1:52.3. Bee A Magician could
only manage a runner-up performance tonight, with Handover Belle a game third
in what was the final start of her wonderful career.
Trainer Jimmy Takter had nothing but praise for his star
mare. “She’s just really good. She chased the boys earlier in the
year and trotted in 1:49.4 and maybe that was a bit hard on her. But, she
rebounded now and has been just fantastic. She is in the caliber with
Moni Maker and I think when she is done, she will be on the list as one of the
great fillies that ever was.”
Shake It Cerry was named Trotter of the Year for her 2014
campaign that included 15 wins from 17 starts and $1.2 Million in
earnings. The 2015 season had been tougher on her, but she closes it out
with a runner-up try in the Breeders Crown and then back to back wins in the
TVG series, sending her lifetime earnings to $2,482,335, while earning her 28th
victory. She is owned by Solveig’s Racing Partners.
Venus Delight Rebounds
The pacing mares were up first in the $200,000 TVG
Championships and delivered a compelling stretch drive with a familiar name
finding the winner’s circle. Despite being the beaten favorite in her
last two starts, Venus Delight was given the majority of support again by the
bettors, established as the 8/5 choice and this time she did not
disappoint. Driven by Tim Tetrick for the first time since her Milton
elimination, Venus Delight worked out a perfect pocket trip throughout the mile
behind the speed of the very sharp Sandbetweenurtoes, who ripped through
fractions of 27, 55.3 and 1:22.4 before turning home with a tenuous lead.
The leader was facing challenges from all parts of the racetrack and began to
drift, opening a path for Venus Delight to charge through, which she did
convincingly and drew clear to a sharp 1:49.4 triumph over a fast closing
Gallie Bythe Beach. Color’s A Virgin went a tough first over trip and fought-on
to hold on to the show spot. Venus Delight is trained by Jeffrey Bamond
Jr. for Bamond Racing L.L.C, earning her eighth win of the season, sending her
seasonal earnings to $605,265.
Filly Divisions of Fall Final Four
With Broadway Donna done for the season, the Breeders Crown
winner All The Time had a chance to make her case for divisional honors in the
$409,950 Goldsmith Maid Final. The bettors believed she was the horse to
beat, establishing her as the 2/5 morning line favorite. But in the end,
it was the lightly raced Double Exposure who proved best on this night.
Following a solid runner-up try in the elimination last
week, Double Exposure was supported well at the windows, sent off as the 4-1
second choice. Tetrick moved his filly forward off the gate and she remained
parked through an opening quarter of 28.1 as the favorite, All The Time set the
pace. Double Exposure cleared the lead and put up a sharp second quarter,
reaching the half-mile in 55.4.
All The Time was content to ride her
pocket until the three-quarter pole, when Gingras showed his
filly racetrack as
the field moved past three-quarters in 1:24.3, but Double Exposure had plenty
left in the tank and accelerated on the lead. All The Time could not trot
with the winner and Double Exposure reached the wire in 1:54, a lifetime best
effort. Haughty rallied off the cover of All The Time to be second, while
Woman’s Will stayed on to be third.
Driver Tim Tetrick expressed confidence in his filly.
“I loved her at Lexington,” said Tetrick. “She got sick after baby races
but she has really matured. I have never gone three big quarters with
her, but she proved she is really good tonight.”
Double Exposure is owned by Brittany Farms and Mel Hartman,
and her earnings soar past $224,000 with the victory.
The $385,250 Three Diamonds was scratched down to a field
of seven, with three fillies gathering the majority of the attention at the
windows, Yankee Moonshine, Shezarealdeal and Penpal. Shezarealdeal made a
break heading to the start which changed the complexion of the race for Yannick
Gingras who was driving Yankee Moonshine. “Absolutely, when she
(Shezarealdeal) took off running, I looked over and saw Pat (Lachance) taking
off the gate, so I made the lead rather easily,” said Gingras. “We were
going pretty good to the half and (Penpal) leaned in and we got hooked up for a
few steps, but the other filly took it tougher than we did.” Yankee
Moonshine was allowed to set the pace through fractions of 27.4, 56.2 and
1:24.3, turning for home with Penpal right off her flank. But, Yankee
Moonshine kept on going in the stretch, keeping Blue Moon Stride trapped in the
pocket for much of the stretch. That filly shook free but it proved too
late, while Shezarealdeal made a great recovery to rally to be third.
Yankee Moonshine completed the mile in 1:52.2. The winner is owned by
Burke Racing Stable, JT45, Karr and Weaver Bruscemi. The victory was the
fourth in the career of Yankee Moonshine, sending her earnings north of
$370,000.
Handle for the 13-race Friday program was $2,426,263.
Racing returns on Saturday, with a 14-race blockbuster card
that begins at 7:00 P.M. Featured on the program are the $400,000 TVG
Free For All Championships as well as the Governor’s Cup, Valley Victory,
Continentalvictory and Tarpot Hap Finals.
