By Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile
LEXINGTON,
KY— Blowing into contention at odds of 82-1 in the elimination, Snowstorm
Hanover replicated his first-heat rally to storm by Devious Man and win the
$420,000 second heat of the Kentucky Futurity, sponsored by Hunterton Farms,
Stoner Manor Inc., and Menhammer Stuteri Ab., in 1:53.2.
“I
really wonder now if he just doesn’t like the hot weather,” Ron Burke said of
his aptly-named trotter, Snowstorm Hanover. “We noticed that he washes out
sometimes very badly in the parade, and sometimes when he washes out he’s really
bad. So, maybe today, the weather was a blessing to him; it seemed cooler.
Snowstorm
Hanover got away fourth in the final, tracking his stable-mate What The Hill
while Bill’s Man put up a quarter in :29. Yes Mickey, circling out of the
pocket, took the field to the half in :56.3 while What The Hill marched first
over into second, carrying with him Snowstorm Hanover. Devious Man, positioned
fourth over around the turn, was flying towards the center of the track heading
to three-quarters, timed in 1:24.2, and took over the lead midway in the
stretch.
Snowstorm
Hanover, angling three wide, chased after Devious Man coming into the eighth
pole, pursuing the leader and eventually drawing alongside before sticking his
nose in front in the final yards to win. Lindy The Great finished third, and
What The Hill was fourth.
Returning
$13.60 to win, Snowstorm Hanover, by Muscle Massive out of the Andover Hall
mare Snow Angel Hanover, won his eighth race in 31 starts, earning $626,849 for
owners Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Phillip Collura and Weaver
Bruscemi. He is trained by Ron Burke and was driven by Matt Kakaley.
“I
told Matt after the first heat ‘Truthfully, you were the only one with trot
finishing in the first two heats, so maybe you got the best horse, and let’s
try to give him a trip,’” Burke said. “Matt couldn’t have done a better job of
putting him in the perfect spot to upset.”
“The
end of the year last year, he was super,” Matt Kakaley said. “He finished up
the year so great, and he’s got it in him if he shows up, that’s for sure.”
“He
was a last-minute addition to even enter him,” Burke said. “But I was like ‘Eh,
what the hell?’—he was second last week, so he paid his entry fee. So it’s a
surprise but it’s also a thrill because it’s our core group that owns all our
horses together, so that makes this even more special to us.”
International
Moni took control midway around the final turn and strolled to a 1:53.4 victory
in the opening elimination for the first heat.
Sitting
fourth off a :28.3 quarter set by Giveitgasandgo, Scott Zeron edged 6-5
favorite International Moni first over before the half, drawing alongside the
leader in :56.2 before clearing the lead.
Clocking three-quarters in 1:24.3,
International Moni held an uncontested lead in the stretch, trotting under a
hand drive as Snowstorm Hanover rallied off a rail trip to take second and
Bill’s Man, from second over, finished third. King On The Hill, and Di Oggi
rounded out the finalists.
By
Love You out of the Speedy Crown mare Moni Maker, International Moni, competing
for the Moni Maker Stable, won his eighth race in 23 starts, earning $527,442.
Trained by Frank Antonacci and driven by Scott Zeron, he paid $4.40 to win.
What
The Hill capitalized off a pocket trip to take the second elimination in
1:53.3.
David
Miller sent What The Hill to the lead, clearing after a :28.4 opening quarter.
After a :57 half, What The Hill took the pocket as Devious Man brushed to the
front from third, leading the field around the final turn and through
three-quarters in 1:24.3.
Fighting
at the rail, Devious Man maintained the lead through most of the stretch. Lindy
The Great, following cover from third over, rallied down the center of the
course wide of Yes Mickey, closing from second over. What The Hill tipped off
the rail, splitting horses late to edge by Devious Man and hold off Lindy The
Great, finishing second, at the line. Yes Mickey was third, Devious Man fourth,
and Dover Dan rounded out the finalists.
Winning
his ninth race in 26 starts, What The Hill, by Muscle Hill out of the Angus
Hall mare K T Cha Cha, races for owners Burke Racing Stable, Our Horse Cents
Stables, Jerry and Theresa Silva Stables, and Deo Volente Farms, earning
$763,612 through his campaign. Trained by Ron Burke, he paid $14.60 to win.
