By Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile
The Red Mile showcased the top two-year-old colt
trotters and filly pacers on their Friday matinee, with the $223,900 International
Stallion Stakes for the fillies and the $260,500 International Stallion Stakes
for the colts.Muscle Network broke Muscle Hill’s world record mark of 1:53.3 in
the first International Stallion Stake of the day, trotting his mile in 1:53.2.
Master Kemp left fast for command,
with Shift Into Glide at his flank and Odds On Amethyst tracking the duo from
third. Shift Into Glide cleared the lead just before the quarter and was soon
challenged by a parked Odds On Amethyst at the quarter, in :28.1.
Odds On Amethyst cleared the lead
shortly into the backstretch. From seventh, Muscle Network tipped first over
and began a furious bid two wide. Odds On Amethyst was bracing for the
challenge of Muscle Network at the half in :55.4 (:27.4).
Master Kemp, having been shuffled
to fourth, tracked the cover of Muscle Network around the far turn. At
three-quarters, Jody Jamieson pulled the plugs on Muscle Network and passed
that station in 1:24.4 (:29).
With a couple taps of the whip,
Muscle Network lifted flight upon the field. He was 4 lengths in front on his
way to the wire and grew that margin to 4-and-a-quarter lengths to win the
first International Stallion Stake in 1:53.2 (:28.3). Monkey Man closed to
finish second, Shift Into Glide was third and Odds On Amethyst faded to fourth.
Muscle Network ($12.40) is a
two-year-old colt by Muscle Hill, out of the mare India Hall by Garland Lobell.
He is owned by Frank Bellino, trained by Tony O’Sullivan and
Jody Jamieson was the pilot.
“It probably never happens [breaking
your maiden in a world record,” trainer Tony O’Sullivan said. “You would have
to check the record books, but I don't think it's ever happened.”
“I went a slow trip with him down
in Vernon; he qualified and he seemed like such a natural trotter with speed.
We hit some bumps at Vernon and we brought him down here to see what he could
do. All week he just kept getting better and better.”
“He's been enjoying jogging on this
track all week and he has looked sharp. He's a beautiful horse and he certainly
has everything to suggest, maybe not a world record, but that he would be a
talented individual. We will take him to the farm down in New Jersey and then
take a shot at the Breeders Crown.”
The fillies broke an international standard as
well in their stakes competition. Precocious Beauty, the division’s current
leader, completed the act, equaling the world record of 1:50.1, set by I Luv
The Nitelife last year.
Precocious Beauty got the lead,
with I Need Hotstuff getting away in second and Delightful Dragon in third.
Precocious Beauty passed the quarter in :27.2. She cantered her way to the half
unpressured, yet clocking that station in a speedy :54.4 (:27.2).
Uffizi Hanover came first over from
fifth and was applying a challenge to Precocious Beauty heading to
three-quarters. Unthreatened by the pressure, Precocious Beauty passed
three-quarters in 1:22.3 (:27.4).
Doug McNair kept Precocious Beauty
to her task, as she continued her mile-sprint into the stretch. Uffizi Hanover
was left to give chase, while Lasting Appeal was closing from second over into
third and I Need Hotstuff trying to hold on to fourth. Precocious Beauty
shortened in stride entering the sixteenth pole, but managed to stop the clock
in 1:50.1 (:27.3). Uffizi Hanover finished second, Lasting Appeal was third and
Delightful Dragon got fourth.
Precocious Beauty ($2.80) is a
two-year-old filly by Art Major, out of the mare Precious Beauty by Jate
Lobell. She is owned by James Avritt, trained by Gregg McNair and son Doug
McNair sat in the bike.
“I didn’t want to get stuck in
traffic or anything in the back,” driver Doug McNair said. “I floated out and
guys were just getting organized, so I revved it up into the first turn and she
did everything from there. She’s versatile. There are a lot of good horses out
there and very few great ones; she’s definitely one of the great ones. It’s
great to be down here and be part of [the Grand Circuit] and to get to drive a
filly like that is the cherry on top.”
“I started out over 50 years ago in
this business with a $300 mare, and we’ve come from there,” owner James Avritt
said. “I could get used to this.”
“My dad was high on her all
winter,” Doug McNair said. “The first time I drove her was when she qualified
and I couldn't really tell about how good she was, but I knew in her first
start. She is very talented, but lazy. She likes to wait on them. Today she had
her head to the side and did the same thing, so you have to watch her but she
is a very nice horse.”
Two more divisions were contested
for the freshmen trotting colts, with the second going to Outburst, returning
from his world record mile last week to score in 1:54.4.
Muscle Midas got the lead, while
Outburst tucked into the pocket and Gangio was racing in third. Muscle Midas
led by the quarter in :28. Outburst soon took to the outside and cleared the
lead just before three-eighths. He was left unchallenged at the half in :56.3
(:28.3).
Il Sogno Dream pulled first over
from fifth at the half. It Really Matters was tracking his move into the far
turn. Il Sogno Dream had marched his way to Outburst’s wheel, but soon began to
retreat as Outburst was accelerating. Muscle Midas remained prime in the pocket
as Outburst passed three-quarters in 1:26 (:29.2).
Outburst had a stampede ready to
contest him into the stretch. Muscle Midas edged out of the pocket and began
narrowing in on the leader. It Really Matters tipped three wide and began his
charge. Outburst dug in through the wire, holding on to win by half-a-length in
1:54.4 (:28.4). Muscle Midas was second, It Really Matters was third and
Auspicious Hanover rallied for fourth.
Outburst ($3.00) is a two-year-old
colt by Explosive Matter, out of the mare Exquisite Lady by Supergill. He is
owned by Adam Victor and Son Stable, Mirva Bogucki and Noel Daley, trained by
Noel Daley and Ron Pierce was in the bike.
“This will set him up perfectly for
the Kindergarten [Series], as he has two weeks before that race," trainer
Noel Daley said. “He trains funny on the front at home and that's one of the
reasons I had to geld him. I didn't really want him out there [on the lead],
but I didn't tell Ronnie [Pierce] that because I figured it would probably
happen, as he was 1-2. I was pleased with him today, he was good.”
The final colt division was won by
E L Titan, fighting off a game Trixton to nip him at the wire in 1:53.4
Speak The Truth launched off the
gate, but made a break entering the first turn. Hillustrious took command,
while Trixton refused to tuck into the pocket. E L Titan was racing in third
and Raise The Curtain was in fourth. Hillustrious led by the quarter in :29.1.
Trixton cleared the lead into the
backstretch. He was left unchallenged as he passed the half in :57 (:27.4). E L
Titan popped out of third and began a charge towards the leader. Hillustrious was
keeping up in the pocket and Raise The Curtain entered the two wide flow
heading to three-quarters. E L Titan and Trixton were stride-for-stride at
three-quarters in 1:26.1 (:29.1).
The tussle on the lead continued
into the stretched. Trixton was all-out, as was E L Titan on the outside. The
two gained instant separation on Hillustrious entering the final eighth as the
pace quickened. In the final quarter sprint, E L Titan emerged better over
Trixton, with Hillustrious finishing third and Raise The Curtain was fourth.
E L Titan ($5.20) is a two-year-old colt by Muscle Hill, out of the mare Courtney Hall by Garland Lobell. He is owned by Erkki Laakkonen and is trained and driven by Riina Rekila.
"He is big, strong and a nice
horse," trainer Riina Rekilla said. “It's very special to win here; all my
friends from Finland are here. We will take him to the Valley Victory if he
comes out of this well, but will skip the Breeders Crown because two weeks is
too soon. He's usually very
quiet in the paddock at home, but he has been wound up here. Also he was wide
for most of the mile and I'd like to give him some time. He is a special horse
to me.”
A duo of filly pace divisions for
the International Stallion Stakes were contested on the card, as well. The
opening division crowned Allstar Rating a Grand Circuit champion, pacing a
1:51.2 effort.
Beach Body got the lead, while
Allstar Rating tucked into second and The Beach Nextdoor paced into third.
Beach Body led by the quarter in :28.1. Allstar Rating did not hesitate in the
pocket, pulling to the outside and was slightly stretched out by Beach Body
before the half. She cleared command and the two wide flow remained
non-existent at the half in :55.2 (:27.1).
The first over cavalcade commenced
into the far turn, with Barefoot Beauty taking the bait from Beach Gal behind
her. Barefoot Beauty made slow progress towards Allstar Rating on their way to
three-quarters. Beach Gal was carried into the race and Beach Body was caught
with no racing room at the pylons. Allstar Rating still held command at
three-quarters in 1:23.2 (:28).
Allstar Rating had pressure on her
march to the wire. Barefoot Beauty appeared to be stalled first over, as was
Beach Gal in her three wide bid. Beach Body tried to sneak up the pylons, but
soon pulled back in a jerk. Barefoot Beauty and Beach Gal were left to give
chase into the sixteenth pole, as Allstar Rating crossed the wire in 1:51.2
(:28). Barefoot Beauty finished second, Beach Gal was third and Beach Body was
fourth.
Allstar Rating ($4.80) is a
two-year-old filly by Four Starzzz Shark, out of the mare Credit Rating by
Western Hanover. She is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and the
JJK Stables, trained by Ron Burke and Yannick Gingras was the driver.
“She’s learning,” driver
Yannick Gingras said. “She was a little bit green on the front today, but I was
happy with the way she raced. If they were moving along faster [early in the
mile], I would have been content to sit there, but you can’t get away with easy
fractions. I thought on paper it was a two-horse race, so I thought if I could
steal it, I might as well take it.”
The second division was referred to by announcer Sam McKee as “the closest finish in Grand Circuit history,” as a quintet of freshmen fillies were only separated by a nose in their International Stallion Stake. My Lady Day emerged an upset winner, somehow splitting horses with little room to win in 1:52.1.
My Lady Day sprinted off the gate
and was at the pylons before the first turn. A La Notte Hanover was up to
pressure and grabbed the lead before the quarter. Somethinincredible was racing
third and Rosie De Vie was in fourth, as A La Notte Hanover passed the opening
panel in :28.1. She had no interaction heading to the half, strolling by in :56
(:27.4). Rosie De Vie was prepared to take her shot, tipping first over into
the far turn. Anegada was racing second over and in fourth, while My Lady Day
was getting a pocket ride. Rosie De Vie was on equal terms with A La Notte
Hanover at three-quarters in 1:24.2 (:28.2).
After her fierce first over
journey, Rosie De Vie continued to pressure A La Notte Hanover on the lead.
Anegada tipped three wide, while My Lady Day had no room to pace. Instant
Respect fanned off her cover from third over and was five wide coming after the
leader. A La Notte Hanover within a matter of strides began to slow down into
the sixteenth pole. In a miraculous bid, My Lady Day practically played bumper
cars to weave her nose in front, just as the shine of the wire was with them. A
fast closing Instant Respect was second, Anegada finished third and Rosie De
Vie was fourth.
My Lady Day ($19.80) is a
two-year-old filly by Western Ideal, out of the mare Economic Clout by
Artsplace. She is owned by Val D’or Farms, trained by Joe Holloway and Andy
Miller sat behind.
“I always have a little
confidence, but it was a good race and at the wire there were five of them
across; I couldn’t separate them,” driver Andy Miller said. “It was very tight
until right down late and then I got my wheels pushed through. She went a
really good effort today. She put her nose out today.”.
“We always knew she had plenty of
pace and that was never a problem,” trainer Joe Holloway said. “She was
lightening up the last eighth of a mile and Kentucky has that new rule on Lasix,
so I figured why not try her on it? She definitely improved. She might race
once more this year, we will see. I can't take her to the Breeders Crown
because Pennsylvania allows Lasix for two-year-old Thoroughbreds, but not for
Standardbreds. So we are going to keep her on the Lasix and just race her in
the states that allow it. She is sound and doesn't have a breathing problem.”
Live racing continues tomorrow at
The Red Mile, with Captaintreacherous matching up with rivals Vegas Vacation
and Sunshine Beach in a division of the Tattersalls. The Glen Garnsey Memorial
and International Stallion Stakes also headline tomorrow’s racing action, with
a matinee post of 1 PM.
