Coastal Highway prevails in Review Stake (Little Pat)

by Tim Jones, USTA Newsroom Correspondent

A misting rain didn’t dampen Coastal Highway’s desire in the $50,000 Review Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts at the Illinois State Fair.

Andy Miller forced the issue with Quick Settlement as the gate wings folded. Miller’s repetitive whip tapping resulted in his mount leading the way from post four. Eventual winner Coastal Highway, with Tim Tetrick up, never saw the rail heading to the quarter, as they were parked by the pocket sitting Active Trading (Sam Widger).

Tetrick kept his colt rolling on the rim and was able to clear and drop to the rail nearing the three-eighths. Not wishing to let Tetrick go, Ryan Anderson came first over to challenge with Booze Cruzin and sped by the brake tapping Tetrick to lead at the :54.1 half.

The field of nine 2-year-old pacers bunched on the final turn and raced tandem, four on the rail, five in the outer flow, being led by head-to head skirmishing Booze Cruzin and Active Trading.

Turning for home, Booze Cruzin slid off the rail ever so slightly, enough to allow Coastal Highway through on the inside. Active Trading wasn’t giving any ground, so the three battled through the length of the stretch heading for the wire.

The sandwiched Booze Cruzin began to grow leg weary nearing the wire, but Coastal Highway to his left, and Active Trading on his right was still going at it. The latter pair hit the wire in 1:53.2. Upon further review… Coastal Highway had nostril flared for the win over the very game Active Trading.

Next Adventure (Mark Evers) finished a very fast closing third.

Tetrick commented following the win photo. “This horse has been real good all year. Seekman always brings ‘em ready. He’s a nice colt, still a little green. Sometimes you have to baby him a little bit. I saw Widger out there, and I knew there was a late rush coming. But it worked out good and we got there, and that’s all that matters,” he said with a huge grin.

Coastal Highway, a Jenna’s Beach Boy colt, has won two of three starts for trainer Joe Seekman. The win check of $25,000 boosts his lifetime earnings over the $40,000 mark for the partnership of Suttons Bay Racing, Broekhuis Stable LLC, and Sawgrass Farms LLC.

Back to Top

Share via