By Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile
The premier matinee card for the 2013 Grand
Circuit meet at The Red Mile held competitions for the $173,200 Bluegrass
three-year-old filly trot and the $261,700 three-year-old colt trot on Sunday.
Also contested were the eliminations for the Allerage Pace and the Allerage
Trot.
Ma Chere Hall kicked off the
afternoon’s highlighted events, defeating Shared Past in 1:52.3 in the first division
of the Bluegrass.
Shared Past got the lead, while Ma
Chere Hall was patiently making her way to the front in second and Royal Assets
was in third. Ma Chere Hall was parked and matched strides with Shared Past at
the quarter pole in :27.1. Ma Chere Hall cleared the lead entering the
backstretch, leaving Shared Past in the pocket. Ma Chere Hall was left
uncontested to the half-mile, but Shared Past was anxiously trotting on her
back in a :55.1 (:28) half.
Vintage Oaks was the first to pull
to the outside into the far turn, with Time To Kill tracking that move. Shared
Past couldn’t wait any longer in the pocket, as Ma Chere Hall was sneaking in a
breather to three-quarters. Shared Past was now breathing down the neck of Ma
Chere Hall, going past three-quarters in 1:25.1 (:30).
With that breather, Ma Chere Hall
was game in holding off Shared Past through the stretch. Royal Assets was
trotting in third and Southwind Cocoa was closing into fourth. Shared Past was
drifting in her bid after Ma Chere Hall, which proved unsuccessful and leaving
her settle with a runner-up placing. Royal Assets was third and Southwind Cocoa
was fourth in the 1:52.3 (:27.2) mile.
Ma Chere Hall ($4.40) 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 was in to drive.
“It was kind of robbery to get a
:30-second third-quarter there, but the only horse I thought I had to beat was
the one on my back,” driver Corey Callahan said. “I took advantage of it if I
could. She gives you what she’s got; all you really have to do is flag the whip
at her. She was good here for the Kentucky Sires Stakes, so I felt really good
with her getting over this surface. I thought Shared Past was the one to beat
in there and she gave us a good run.”
Asked about her gait-issues earlier
this year, Corey Callahan said that, “she just gets a little bit excited. She
had the ten-hole, we were all the way on the outside there and it was a big
crowd, so she kind of lost her mind. It was a bad time to do it, but these
things happen. She’s bounced right back and gone some good miles, so I’ve been
very pleased with her.”
World champion Frau Blucher
suffered defeat in the second division of the Bluegrass, losing to a
fast-closing Handover Belle in a 1:52.2 mile.
Frau Blucher got the lead, with
Mistery Woman wide around the turn and Fashion Athena getting away in the
pocket. Tonato Of Love was racing in fourth passed the quarter, reached in
:27.3. Mistery Woman cleared the lead shortly before three-eighths, putting
Frau Blucher in a pocket position.
Fashion Athena was racing in third and
Tonato Of Love remained in fourth through a :55.4 (:28.1) half-mile.
Handover Belle was the first to tip
to the outside, with To Dream On tracking her. Fashion Athena was flushed first
over entering the far turn, to shortly pick up cover from Frau Blucher midway
around the turn. Frau Blucher took a narrow lead at three-quarters, timed in
1:24.3 (:28.4).
Frau Blucher put away Mistery Woman
into the stretch. Handover Belle fanned three wide and To Dream On tracked her
four wide. Handover Belle swooped by to take command. To Dream On was her main
foe down the far outside, while Frau Blucher was beginning to throw in the
towel. Handover Belle managed to hold off To Dream On, with Mistery Woman
finishing third and Frau Blucher faltering to fourth in a 1:52.2 (:27.4) mile.
Handover Belle ($21.60) is a
three-year-old filly by Andover Hall, out of the mare Harbour Belle by Lindy
Lane. She is owned by John Carver and Howard Taylor, trained by Tony Alagna and
Tim Tetrick was in the bike.
“She's always been a filly that's
really good tracking horses and always showed a big late kick early at the
Meadowlands,” trainer Tony Alagna. “Last year we were very high on her, she
finished up the year well and looked like she was going to give To
Dream On a run for her money one day here at Lexington and she stepped on a
flip flop and made a break. She's always shown the ability and she got an
opportunity to get a nice mark today.”
Creatine took his field
gate-to-wire in the first of a trio of glamour boy-divisions for the Bluegrass
Stakes, winning in 1:52.3.
Creatine got the lead, with
Deadliest Catch getting away in second and Punxsutawney in third. Creatine
trotted by the quarter in :28.2. He was left uncontested and strolled his way
to the half in :56.2 (:28). Punxsutawney took his shot from third entering the
far turn, progressing first over into second. Deadliest Catch was stuck in the
pocket passing three-quarters in 1:25 (:28.3).
Creatine trotted a fairly easy mile
into the stretch. Deadliest Catch didn’t get daylight until late, trotting his
way up the pylons, while Punxsutawney was grinding first over after the lead.
Creatine stayed game up to the wire, winning in 1:52.3 (:27.3). Punxsutawney
finished second, Deadliest Catch was third and Caveat Emptor closed for fourth.
Creatine ($3.00) 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.
“I didn't really want to race him
in front today, but the race just set up for that,” driver Mike Lachance said.
I tried to cut even fractions and he dug in at the end. I didn't ask him for
anything on the last turn. I just waited until the top of the stretch and he
was good enough that he held on.”
Your So Vain glided around horses
in the final stages of the second division and emerged victorious in a 1:53.3
score.
Bluto got the lead, with Lindy’s
Tru Grit getting away in second and Vibe Blue Chip was in third.
Bluto led
passed the quarter at :29.2. Vibe Blue Chip pulled first over from third
entering the backstretch and failed to clear the lead, but he managed to pull
back into the third slot heading to the half. Bluto was left alone on the lead
at the half in :57.1 (:27.4).
Into the far turn, Wheeling N
Dealin was leading the two wide flow from sixth, providing Your So Vain with
dull cover heading to three-quarters. Bluto still held command, but Lindy’s Tru
Grit began to edge to the outside. Bluto led by three-quarters in 1:25.3
(:28.2).
Lindy’s Tru Grit trotted by Bluto
under a hand drive at the top of the stretch. Your So Vain was rapidly closing
in down the center of the track, with Wheeling N Dealin trying to participate
in that rally. Your So Vain took command from Lindy’s Tru Grit into the
sixteenth-pole and he went on to victory, in a 1:53.3 (:28) mile. Lindy’s Tru
Grit was second, Vibe Blue Chip was third and Wheeling N Dealin finished
fourth.
Your So Vain ($2.20) 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 Stables, trained by Bradley Maxwell and Tim
Tetrick was the pilot.
“He just wants to put his nose out
and he proved it today," driver Tim Tetrick said. “I drove him a couple of
times last year and he's just a nice, nice horse; he's nothing flashy but he
really likes to get to the house.”
“Today he proved that he can make
up 6, 7 lengths in the lane which is pretty awesome. I mean he had to make up
eight, nine lengths. He was a long way back there. At the quarter pole I was really
cussing myself for getting back as far as I did with the slow fractions.
He shows he loves to race home and he loves to
pass horses,” Tim Tetrick also said.
Spider Blue Chip, trotting a
track-record effort of 1:51.3, won the final division of the sophomore colt
Bluegrass action.
All Laid Out got the lead, with
Pine Credit getting away in second and Master Of Law was first over in third,
trying to clear the lead. Master Of Law got rough gaited before the quarter and
went off stride, leaving second over Spider Blue Chip to fight his own battle.
All Laid Out led by the first quarter in :28..
Spider Blue Chip took his time
clearing the lead down the backstretch, gradually getting each muscle ahead of
All Laid Out heading to the half. Pine Credit was racing in third and Dewey
Luvs Britt was trotting fourth, as Spider Blue Chip cleared the lead through a
:55.1 (:27.1) half-mile.
Pine Credit took his shot after the
leader into the far turn, while Fico was attempting to catch his cover second
over. Spider Blue Chip remained in control at three-quarters in 1:24.2 (:29.1).
Spider Blue Chip turned another
gear into the stretch. All Laid Out was desperately looking for racing room,
while Pine Credit was in an all-out drive in the center of the track. All Laid
Out took the outside in a final hope of top honors, but Spider Blue Chip
arrived with his a-game, winning the final Bluegrass division in 1:51.3
(:27.1). Pine Credit finished second, All Laid Out was third and Lauderdale was
fourth.
Spider Blue Chip ($6.40) is a
three-year-old gelding by Andover Hall, out of the mare Southwind Caitlin by
Muscles Yankee. He is owned by David Mc Duffee and Melvin Hartman, trained by
Chuck Sylvester and Ron Pierce was the pilot to the track-record mile of
1:51.3.
“He broke at Delaware, I put a bridle
on him that made him a little bit too hot and he couldn’t make it on the
turns,” trainer Chuck Sylvester said. “That was the first time this year with
an open bridal, so I expected he might do that [look around]. He’s made a lot
of money and he battles with the best of them all year. He’s a very nice
horse.”
The competition deepened in the
Allerage Trot elimination, as Arch Madness pulled off the 18-1 upset over Quick
Deal in 1:50.2, matching the world record.
Quick Deal left the gate fastest
and got the front, but Sevruga was up to contest him for the lead as they
marched to the quarter. Arch Madness was trotting third and Lindys Jersey Boy
was near the pace in fourth, as Sevruga trotted to the quarter in :28. He was
left unchallenged at the half-mile, yet still sped his way to stop that split
in :54.3 (:26.3).
Appomattox tipped first over from
fifth in the march around the far turn. Market Share tracked him second over,
while Arch Madness was soon going to be the new leader of the two wide flow. He
was flushed first over heading to three-quarters, but Appomattox didn’t catch
him as cover. Sevruga was still in front at three-quarters in 1:23 (:28.2).
Arch Madness took command from
Sevruga midway through the stretch. Quick Deal edged off the pylons from third
and began pursuing the leader, while Market Share was closing down the center
of the track. Quick Deal nearly got to Arch Madness, but the nine-year-old
veteran fought on until the wire, winning the Allerage Trot elimination in
1:50.2 (:27.2). Quick Deal was second, Market Share was third and Sevruga
finished fourth.
Arch Madness ($38.00) 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 was trained and steered
by Trond Smedshammer.
“He's an amazing horse,” trainer
Trond Smedshammer said. “To me he's acted like he's been himself, he didn't act
like he lost a step all year, but it's been an awfully tough group of horses. A
lot of times he ended up in the two-hole, and I talked to the owners about it.
If you look back at the horse's career, he never raced any good with a trip.
He's either good if he comes first up or is on the front end. This was probably
his last chance against these kind of horses, so I decided to give him a shot
first over and he delivered.”
Also advancing to the final are
Mister Herbie, Appomattox and Lindys Jersey Boy. Wishing Stone, Southwind
Pepino and Guccio all received byes into the final.
A Rocknroll Dance continued to
display his superiority, with his main rival Pet Rock absent, as he swept to
the top and sprinted around the rest of the Lexington oval to win the Allerage
Pace elimination in 1:48.4.
Bolt The Duer got the lead, while
Sweet Lou was first over in an attempt to tuck into a pocket. Golden Receiver
was racing third to the quarter, timed in :27.1. Sweet Lou claimed command
entering the backstretch, but A Rocknroll Dance began chasing him down from
second over. A Rocknroll Dance was the new leader just before the half, with Sweet
Lou in the pocket and Escape The News journeying first over. A Rocknroll Dance
took them by the half in :53.4 (:26.3).
Escape The News came closer to A
Rocknroll Dance into the far turn. Foreclosure N was racing second over, poised
to rally wide. Bolt The Duer was shuffled to fifth in need of racing room as A
Rocknroll Dance held off the challenge from Escape The News, setting the third
fraction in 1:22.1 (:29.3).
A Rocknroll Dance began his sprint
at the head of the stretch. Sweet Lou angled to the outside, giving Bolt The
Duer a chance to shake loose. Down the center of the track came Our Lucky Chip,
flying hard after the leader. A Rocknroll Dance was game heading down to the
wire and held off Bolt The Duer for the victory, pacing in 1:48.4. Our Lucky
Chip finished third and Sweet Lou was fourth.
A Rocknroll Dance ($3.40) is a
four-year-old horse by Rocknroll Hanover, out of the mare Wichita Hanover by
Cam’s Card Shark. He is owned by A Rocknroll Dance Stable, trained by Jim
Mulinix and Tim Tetrick was in the bike.
With Pet Rock receiving a bye into
the final, Golden Receiver, Clear Vision, Up The Credit, Escape The News and
Aracache Hanover will all progress to the final.
Live racing at The Red Mile will
resume on Thursday, with a post time of 1 PM. Thursday kicks off the
International Stallion Series, with the two-year-old filly trotters competing
first.
