On a track that was listed as good, from a morning deluge
and unseasonably cold temperatures, the adverse conditions did not deter the
newest member of the 7000 club Jason Bartlett, as he won 4 races on the 13 race
program.
By virtue of his Sheppard Elimination win, the public
betting made Persist Blue Chip (PP2) the favorite. After a brisk 28.4
opening stanza, Matt Kakely slowed the pace to a 59.1 half, the tempo at the ¾
was a leisurely 1:28.3 from then on it was all cruise control. He went on to
score a wire to wire win in a lifetime best of 1:58.1 over Carolina Magic by a
scant nose. The son of Roll With Joe – Real Reflection is owned by Burke,
Martin, Switala and Weaver Bruscemi.
In the second $27,750 contest Delightful Joe left first and
fast from the gate, once the field settled in down the back side Matt Kakaley
used the same tactic as in his first win and went down the road to play catch
me if you can with Topville Olympian and had the lead first over at the ¼ in
29.0. The bay son of American Ideal – Our Sophia was at the half in 59
and had 2 lengths on the field, the margin was cut to 1 length at the ¾ pole in
1:28.0 Delightful Joe was in perfect position throughout but to no avail as
Topville Olympian threw down a LQ of 28 to take a new lifetime mark of in 1:56.
He is owned by Menary and Billy & Anthony Timmins of Great Britain.
Jason Bartlett notched his 2 win on the card with Casual
Cool, a winner in Sire Stakes company last start at Buffalo, he was content to
let the dust settle on the front end while Rock Lights showed the field through
fractions of 28.3, 58:1, 1:27.3, at this point Casual Cool was in the outer
flow and gaining ground on the outside to win by 2 lengths in 1:56, tying his
lifetime best. The $165,000 son of American Ideal – Sight To See, is owned by
Ken Jacobs and trained by Linda Toscano.
In one of the afternoons more impressive performances,
Jimtastic, was making his pari-mutuel debt from the rail for trainer Andrew
Harris. The son of Art Major - Jimmy The Terror was dominant in his
qualifier at Mohawk, winning by 8 in 1:57.3, he was equally impressive today,
scoring in 1:57.1 for Jason Bartlett over Real Rayenbow.
Aces In Heaven, ($4.40) took no prisoners as he soundly
defeated his Excelsior A rivals in 1:57.1, the son of Rock N Roll Heaven was
trained and driven to victory by John MacDonald, he was bred by Crawford Farms
LLC.
It was an afternoon of doubles, trainers Linda Toscano, Ron
Burke and Andrew Harris each had a pair of winners, Matt Kakaley also had a
driving double and Winbak Farms has 2 winners on the breeding side. In
the breeding shed Sires, American Ideal, Roll With Joe, Rock N Roll Heaven and
Betterthancheddar each has 2 sons visit the winners circle.
