By Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile
LEXINGTON,
KY—Chris Ryder trainee Bettor’s Wish ground first over into the final turn and
withstood a late rush from pocket-popper Captain Crunch to take the second of
two divisions of the $540,000 Crawford Farms Tattersalls Pace—sponsored by
Michelle and Albert Crawford—on Sunday, Oct. 6 at The Red Mile.
Captain
Crunch led the field to a :26.3 first quarter but settled for the pocket moving
up the backstretch as American Mercury brushed from third to the lead past a
:55 half. Bettor’s Wish, racing fifth, followed that move but raced uncovered
upon the lead change into the final turn. The son of Bettor’s Delight pressed
forward through three-quarters in 1:21.3 and put away American Mercury
straightening for the finish. Captain Crunch vacated pocket and rallied inside
of Bettor’s Wish late but only gave chase from second. Air Force Hanover took
third.
“I
was concerned about Captain Crunch,” Chris Ryder said after the race. “He was
second last week but he raced well. He made us go, so it was a little anxious
absolutely. But we held on. There’s really not much to say. [Bettor’s Wish] was
a nice two-year-old and he’s just improved. The time off or whatever from two
to three—he’s just a faster animal.”
Co-owned
by Chris Ryder with Bella Racing, Fair Island Farm and Bettors Wish Partners,
Bettor’s Wish won his 16th race from 27 starts, earning $1,561,000.
Dexter Dunn, who became the leading driver of the Grand Circuit meeting,
piloted the $2.60 winner.
Dancin
Lou lunged inside of 1-9 favorite Southwind Ozzi late in the stretch to take
the other division of the Crawford Farms Tattersalls Pace.
Driver
Dexter Dunn dashed Dancin Lou to the lead while U S Captain settled for the
pocket moving to a :27 first quarter. Southwind Ozzi, sitting third, soon
tipped wide and brushed to the top entering the backside, leading the field
past the half in :54.3.
Can’t
Beach That flushed first over from fourth moving into the final turn, tracked
by Shake That House, but stalled past three-quarters in 1:23. Southwind Ozzi
clung to command as he floated off the pegs through the stretch. Dancin Lou
darted through the late opening and slid past the Little Brown Jug winner to stop
the clock in 1:49.4. Shake That House kicked off cover for third.
“This
is a dream come true I just can’t believe it,” said winning trainer Tahnee
Camilleri, an Australian native in her first year training stateside. “I’m in
shock—I’m shaking. You normally don’t find me tongue tied but, oh my God. I’m
just thankful [my owners] decided to give an Aussie girl chasing the American
dream a shot.
“He
really likes the big track and I think he likes the clay surface,” Camilleri
also said. “He stays like a mother in law so the big track suits him.”
Bred
by Anvil & Lace Farm and owned by David Kryway and 1362313 Ontario Ltd.,
Dancin Lou won his 10th race from 26 starts, earning $265,859. The
Sweet Lou colt bound for the Breeders Crown paid $20.40 to win.
