By
Ken Weingartner, for Breeders Crown
ANDERSON,
Ind. – Beckhams Z Tam out-dueled 3-5 favorite Downbytheseaside down the stretch
to win Saturday night’s $527,500 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old male
pacers by one-quarter length in 1:51.1, and in the process, touched off an
emotional celebration at Hoosier Park. Miso Fast was third.
Beckhams
Z Tam, the third Indiana-bred of the night to capture a Breeders Crown, has
spent nearly his entire career racing at Hoosier Park. He was driven by Ricky
Macomber Jr. and is trained by his wife, Jamie, who is a former assistant to
trainer Ron Burke.
The
colt is owned by Bill Matz’s Z Tam Stables. It was the first Breeders Crown win
for all.
Jamie
Macomber greeted her husband with a hug and kiss as he returned to the winner’s
circle with Beckhams Z Tam. A large crowd gathered in and around the winner’s
circle and shouted words of congratulations to the connections.
“I
never dreamed anything like this,” a teary-eyed Jamie Macomber said as she made
her way to the trophy presentation. “This is his home track. Turning for home,
I knew he was the winner. I don’t know what to say. My husband did it. It’s
amazing.”
All
but three of Beckhams Z Tam’s career races have come at Hoosier Park.
Miso
Fast was the early leader, taking the field to the opening quarter in :26.2.
Downbytheseaside claimed the lead prior to the half, reached in :56, and
remained on top when he hit three-quarters in 1:24.4.
Beckhams
Z Tam was fourth at three-quarters, following the first-over cover of Mac’s
Jackpot, before surging three wide and making his way to the front.
Downbytheseaside remained within striking distance, but was unable to get
closer than the final margin.
“That
horse that was first up, I was a little worried that he wouldn’t be able to
carry me around the last turn, and I was more concerned about that half being
in 56 flat,” said Ricky Macomber. “It was a little slow, but he overcame it.”
Macomber
pumped his fist as he crossed the finish line.
“I
was thrilled,” he said. “Just a big weight lifted off my shoulders.”
Jamie
Macomber is in her first year of running her own stable after spending the past
10 years handling Burke’s Indiana-stabled horses. She received support, as well
as horses such as Beckhams Z Tam, from Wilbur Eash, who was looking to slow
down with an eye toward retirement. Macomber took over the training of Beckhams
Z Tam in March.
“I
couldn’t have had a better team to prep me for this,” said Jamie Macomber. “Ron
Burke is an amazing man and my parents are awesome.”
Beckhams
Z Tam has won 11 of 19 races this year and earned $500,295. For his career, the
son of Always A Virgin out of the mare Sara’s Lucky Charm, has won 11 of 25
races and $547,994.
Sent
off at odds of 9-2, Beckhams Z Tam paid $11.20 to win.
