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September 30, 2014 12:39 PM
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Kentucky native Randy Jerrell is enjoying his best season as a driver and wouldn’t mind adding to the fun with a win behind Armatrading in Thursday’s International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old female trotters at The Red Mile in Lexington.
Armatrading, trained by Ken Oscarsson, has won two of eight starts this season, including the Kentucky Sire Stakes championship for 2-year-old female trotters. Last week, she finished fourth in a division of the Bluegrass Stakes at The Red Mile.
On Thursday, Armatrading competes in the first of four International Stallion Stakes divisions. She will start from post five in an eight-filly field that includes recent Keystone Classic division winner Kelsey’s Keepsake and Bluegrass Stakes division runner-up Wiclet Hanover.
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September 29, 2014 1:43 PM
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It’s what the amateur drivers live for -- steady action. And that was the case this past weekend for members of the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Series when there were races at Batavia Downs on Friday and at Vernon Downs on Saturday. Races there followed an event at the Red Mile on Thursday which was won by Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford, as was reported earlier.
But Oldford was at it again on Friday after he drove nine hours from Lexington to race at Batavia Downs in two Billings contests, winning the second one with a catch-drive behind Allpointsbulletin in a time of 2:02.3.
After leaving from the pole position, Oldford’s trotter took command with Dave “Poppa” Glasser ducking in behind him on the first turn with Somolli Crown. They raced one-two around the track with Somolli Crown tight on Oldford’s back until the lane where Glasser rallied and the two trotters crossed the wire nearly simultaneously with neither driver sure as to who won.
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September 24, 2014 3:48 PM
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In a cool twist of fate, one horse provided two milestones for the Cushing family.
On Aug. 11 at the Skowhegan State Fair in Maine, 16-year-old Mitch Cushing drove Neverdie to his first career victory. One year earlier, Mitch’s dad Ron Cushing guided the same horse to his 2,000th career win.
“The funny part is, I didn’t even know that until after the race,” Mitch said. “It wasn’t in my head who he won it with because I wasn’t there that day when he won it.”
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September 24, 2014 3:00 PM
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Dual classic winner California Chrome came out of his unplaced finish in the Sept. 20 Pennsylvania Derby in good order and is on course for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic.
The Lucky Pulpit colt was none the worse for wear following his disappointing sixth-place finish in the Pennsylvania Derby behind powerful, front-running winner Bayern, who was ridden and rated perfectly by Martin Garcia.
"He came back fine," trainer Art Sherman said from his base at Los Alamitos Race Course. "He looks good. He didn't have the greatest trip in the world, but we'll live to fight another day."
That would be Classic, which is set for Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park.
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September 24, 2014 12:38 PM
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Welcome to the premier of season 12—yes, SEASON 12—with Backstretch With Gordon from The Red Mile. Hard to believe this all began in 2003 with the simple request from Boss Kathy: "Why don't you go out to The Red Mile, walk around and write what you see and hear?”
Along the way I even picked up a sponsor, so I say thank you to Steve and Cindy Stewart's Hunterton Sales Agency for their generosity. And along the way I began something that at first we thought would be a service to horsemen, but now has become so popular that it will probably go on my gravestone: "The price of a gallon of gas today in Lexington is $3.48.” It would have been $3.19 had I wrote this yesterday morning, but the price skyrocketed yesterday afternoon.
So on this bright, sunshiny Wednesday morning in Lexington, I arrived at The Red Mile for my rounds shortly past 8 a.m. The first person I saw was track president Joe Costa, who has been busy, not only tending to the race meet but also finalizing plans for the introduction of the historical racing machines—Instant Racing. The target for the opening is July 2015 and work has already begun. I also stuck my head into the judges' office to say hello, which I received in return from Mike and Rich, but Dan was busy on the phone taking driver changes.
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September 19, 2014 9:06 AM
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The second leg of the Florida Sunshine Stakes with more than $25,000 in purses will take place Saturday (Sept. 20) at Sunshine Meadows Equestrian Village in Delray Beach. There is free admission and parking.
First race post time is 11 a.m. for the eight race program for Florida-sired 2- and 3-year-old trotters and pacers. There is one division for each gait and gender. The series is hosted by the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association to spotlight the top Florida-sired Standardbreds.
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September 18, 2014 11:00 AM
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In what turned out to be one of the fastest miles ever trotted at Monticello Raceway On The Podium rambled to a 1:56.2 triumph, winning the featured race on Wednesday (Sept. 17). That mark erased the former standard of 1:57 for an older gelding co-owned by Cornishman N in 2011 and Rompaway Alan in 2013.
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September 18, 2014 9:52 AM
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Sebastian K, the world's fastest trotter, will make his Hoosier Park Racing & Casino debut as he heads a powerful field of ten in the $238,500 Centaur Trotting Classic on Saturday, September 20. Offering arguably the best 14-race card of the 2014 live racing season to-date, Hoosier Park will play host to a stakes-filled card that boasts lofty purses as Grand Circuit racing action returns to the seventh-eighths mile oval. As Hoosier Park's signature trotting event, The Centaur Trotting Classic will highlight the 14-race program.
The 8-year-old Swedish trotter, Sebastian K has taken the sport of harness racing by storm since arriving in North America earlier this year, setting records nearly everywhere he goes. Boasting a career bankroll of over $2.9 million, Sebastian K has won 34 of 72 races in his career and has only been defeated one time in eight starts since racing in North America.
Sebastian K's stunning 1:49 victory on June 28 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in the $100,000 Sun Invitational was the fastest clocking ever recorded by a trotter. In addition to trotting the fastest mile in history, he is also the first trotter to ever win four times in 1:50.3 or faster.
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September 18, 2014 9:51 AM
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The prestigious American National Stakes returned to Balmoral Park on Wednesday night with a pair of trotting events for 2 year olds sharing top billing on the nine-race program. The ladies opened the action with a compact field of six diagonally gaited specialists battling for a purse of $57,200. Returning to the scene of her lone victory to date was just what the doctor ordered for Homer Hochstetler and Robert Buddig's Persuasive Look as the filly reported home with a half-length victory in a career best of 1:58 for driver Casey Leonard. Content to sit near the back of the pack in fifth as heavy favorite Fox Valley Yoko (John De Long) cruised through splits of :29.2, :58.3 and 1:28.3, Leonard finally put the daughter of Powerful Emotion-Black N Bluegenes into contention as the field neared the top of the stretch.
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September 18, 2014 9:50 AM
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Color's A Virgin's year-round home is in the Brian Brown Stable at the Delaware, Ohio, fairgrounds, so it should come as no surprise that she easily found her way into theJugette winner's circle Wednesday afternoon after winning her elimination and then coming back and capturing the second heat in 1:52.4. Brown's barn is in the Jug Barn at the Delaware fairgrounds, so it was just a short walk to bring Color's A Virgin to the Jugette Barn for Wednesday's 44th renewal of the $298,100 Jugette for 3-year-old filly pacers. While the walk to the winner's circle was just a bit longer, it didn't take much longer for the connections to get there. In the second Jugette heat, Color's A Virgin started from post 1 after winning the first of the threeelims, and driver Trace Tetrick found himself in second-over position behind second elim-winner Beautiful Lady and Matt Kakaley past the :55.4 half. Tetrick parlayed the trip into the victory as he was able to urge Color's A Virgin past Beautiful Lady in deep stretch to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Beach Story finished third for driver Brett Miller. Gallie Bythe Beach
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September 18, 2014 9:49 AM
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Rock N Randall (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) went gate to wire to capture the final division of the $64,634 Ohio Breeders Championship for freshman colt pacers Wednesday afternoon at the Delaware, Ohio, fairgrounds. Rock N Randall defeated a late charging Danger Storm (Ron Pierce) and Dyno Mite Man (David Miller) in 1:58.1. Ollie Pop (Aaron Merriman) scored an upset win in the first $32,317 division in 1:56.4.
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September 18, 2014 9:47 AM
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Chester and Mary Broman's homebred Ballerina Stakes (gr. I) winner Artemis Agrotera will face five rivals as she looks to continue her winning ways in the $300,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) Sept. 20 at Belmont Park.
After a brilliant 6 1/2-length score in the seven-furlong Ballerina Aug. 23 atSaratoga Race Course, Artemis Agrotera shortens back to 6 1/2 furlongs in the Gallant Bloom. She has not run that short a distance since breaking her maiden at six panels for trainer Mike Hushion in an 11 3/4-length romp at Saratoga last August prior to acing the Frizette Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont in October.
The 3-year-old Roman Ruler filly, bred in New York, gets regular rider Rajiv Maragh in the irons from the inside post while carrying 118 pounds.
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September 18, 2014 9:47 AM
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After three straight runner-up finishes in graded stakes races, grade II winner Miss Behaviour will try to get untracked Saturday, Sept. 20, when she's expected to face nine other 3-year-old fillies in the$500,000 Charles Town Oaks (gr. III) atHollywood Casino At Charles Town Races.
Included in her stretch of second-place performances is a one-length loss toSweet Reason in the Test Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 2 at Saratoga Race Course. While the Cal MacWilliam and Neil Teitelbaum homebred will be returning to that seven-furlong distance, Saturday's race will be contested around two turns on the six-furlong Charles Town oval.
Also, the daughter of Jump Start will be racing under the lights for the first time. Miss Behaviour previously has adjusted well to new surroundings as her four career wins have come at four different tracks.
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September 30, 2014 12:36 PM
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Grand Circuit racing resumes on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 2) at The Red Mile with the $323,200 International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old filly trotters. A field of 33 freshman lasses were declared, resulting in four divisions of the stake.
The marquee player in the division thus far, co-world record holder Mission Brief, has been entered and will leave from post three in the day’s fourth race. TheMuscle Hill filly out of Southwind Serena has been sensational if slightly erratic in her young career.
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September 29, 2014 1:42 PM
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The Herman Wheeler owned and trained Fox Valley Qatar made it eight straight wins to open his career as the good looking youngster cruised to a 3-1/2 length victory over nine other Illinois conceived and foaled 2-year-old trotting colts in Sunday’s (Sept. 28) $10,000 Lincoln Land Stake elimination at Balmoral Park. The final time was 1:57.4.
Placed in mid-pack after floating away from post seven for driver Todd Warren, the gelded son of Pizzazzed-Armbro Bahrain worked out a picture perfect journey, moving up second over as the diagonally gaited youngsters moved around the far turn.
Sitting just three lengths off the leaders as the field turned for home, Fox Valley Qatar unleashed a :28.3 final quarter, storming down the center of the racetrack to keep his unblemished record intact. RT Habanero (Dave Magee) used a nice ground saving trip to finish second while Captain Greedy (John Finn) rallied from far back to be a distant third, 7-1/2 lengths behind the winner.
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September 24, 2014 3:00 PM
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Two-time reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan worked on Keeneland's turf course Sept. 23 in preparation for his next start Oct. 4 in the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile.
Clockers caught Wise Dan, with regular exercise rider Damien Rock aboard, in five furlongs around the dogs on the course labeled firm in 1:01.20.
"I thought he worked really good," trainer Charlie LoPresti said about the 7-year-old gelding by Wiseman's Ferry. "These cones are really far out. He galloped out good."
LoPresti said he would determine in the coming days whether Wise Dan will work again before the Shadwell Turf Mile.
"We'll just see how he comes out of this one," he said. "Maybe we'll work him on the dirt one more time."
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September 24, 2014 12:38 PM
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A California Chrome victory in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) would follow one of the more unique preparation schedules of a winner in the race’s history.
While there were no Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In,” races over the weekend of Sept. 20-21, the Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) certainly deserves close scrutiny with two-time classic winner California Chrome finishing sixth off a long layoff and front-running powerhouse Bayern delivering his second impressive victory in his past three starts.
Despite the off-the-board finish, California Chrome’s camp immediately committed to following through with their initial plan of racing in the Pennsylvania Derby and then training up to the 1 ¼-mile Classic Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park.
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September 24, 2014 12:37 PM
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Trainer George Ducharme hopes Bee The Queen can ascend to the top ranks of 2-year-old female trotters. Ducharme sends out Bee The Queen and Concentration in Thursday night's Bluegrass Stakes divisions for 2-year-old fillies at The Red Mile in Lexington. There are four divisions, with Concentration competing in the third and Bee The Queen in the fourth. Wild Honey, a Jimmy Takter-trainee fresh off her world record 1:55.2 win in a division of the Standardbred Stakes at the Delaware County Fair in Ohio, is the 6-5 favorite in the first division. Stakes-winner Jolene Jolene, from the barn of trainer Jonas Czernyson, is the 9-5 favorite in the second split. Bee The Queen, who enters the Bluegrass off three consecutive wins in the Kindergarten Series, starts from post No. 1 with driver Brian Sears and is 3-1 on the morning line. She is the second choice behind 5-2 favorite Allerage Star, a stakes-winner from the stable of trainer Jessica Okusko. "We liked her as a yearling and she acted good all winter,” Ducharme said about Bee The Queen. "We ran into a few bumps in the road early in the spring when we got close (to racing), so we gave her time and were patient with her and it seems like it's turned out to be the right decision. She's peaking at the right time as far as I'm concerned.”
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September 19, 2014 9:05 AM
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Kandaly, winner of the 1994 Louisiana Derby (gr. III) and sire, died Sept. 12. The 23-year-old from the last crop of Alydarwas suffering from founder at Jason and Rebecca's Main Street Thoroughbreds near Lake Charles, La.
"He was grouchy until the end," Jason White said. "He'd try to bite you every time you walked by his stall. And if you didn't give him any attention, then he'd really try to bite you.
"He really became part of the family," White said. "We decided when he came to Main Street that he was going to stay forever. Lately we just tried to keep him as comfortable as possible."
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September 18, 2014 10:59 AM
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Let's Go Stable's Divine Oath looks to get back on track Sept. 20 in the $150,000Kent Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Delaware Park, coming off a sixth-place finish in the Aug. 16 Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) at Arlington International Racecourse.
The lackluster effort from the 3-year-old son of Broken Vow came after he took the July 12 American Derby (gr. IIIT) at Arlington with a good late move. The American Derby was his third score this year along with a maiden and allowance win garnered earlier in the season for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Jose Caraballo gets the mount from the inside aboard Divine Oath, who carries 120 pounds in the 1 1/8-mile turf test.
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September 18, 2014 9:51 AM
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t age 21, Washington Court House native Tyler Smith is the youngest driver in the Little Brown Jug. And this will be his first Jug.
But he got a big break when he and Let’s Drink On It drew the rail for the first elimination today at the Delaware Country Fairgrounds.
“Driving in the Jug is an absolute thrill,” Smith said. “My horse has been a ‘no-luck’ horse all year. I hope to get off to a good start and advance to the final.”
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September 18, 2014 9:51 AM
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Wednesday's (Sept. 17) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Harrington Raceway and Batavia Downs.
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September 18, 2014 9:50 AM
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Powerful Charger ($6.60, Victor Kirby) delivered I Like My Boss his first career loss with a 1:56 victory in the $17,000 Open Trot at Harrington Raceway Wednesday. Owned by trainer Jim King Jr., and Tim Tetrick, the 6-year-old Powerful Emotion gelding edged clear late after a first-over grind and held off a game I Like My Boss who chased second over and ran out of racetrack in his rally attempt resulting in a narrow loss. It was the first career defeat for I Like My Boss in 16 starts. For Powerful Charger, it was his third win of the season and first career win in the Open class. I Like My Boss, a Delaware Sires Stakes champion, won all three of his starts as a 2 year old and 12 previous attempts at age 3.
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September 18, 2014 9:48 AM
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Bruce Trogdon has long admired the horses competing in the big events at the Delaware County Fair from his seat in the grandstand.
On Wednesday, he got to admire one of his own from the winner’s circle.
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September 18, 2014 9:47 AM
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Chester and Mary Broman's homebred Ballerina Stakes (gr. I) winner Artemis Agrotera will face five rivals as she looks to continue her winning ways in the $300,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) Sept. 20 at Belmont Park.
After a brilliant 6 1/2-length score in the seven-furlong Ballerina Aug. 23 atSaratoga Race Course, Artemis Agrotera shortens back to 6 1/2 furlongs in the Gallant Bloom. She has not run that short a distance since breaking her maiden at six panels for trainer Mike Hushion in an 11 3/4-length romp at Saratoga last August prior to acing the Frizette Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont in October.
The 3-year-old Roman Ruler filly, bred in New York, gets regular rider Rajiv Maragh in the irons from the inside post while carrying 118 pounds.
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