Blenheim scores in 1:54 in Old Oaken Bucket
September 22, 2016,by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications
Delaware, OH — Blenheim won Thursday’s (Sept. 22) $122,500 Old Oaken Bucket for 3-year-old male trotters, defeating favorite Cufflink Hanover by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:54 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds. Tight Lines, who was the leader for three-quarters of the mile race, finished third and Promise Delivered was fourth.
USTA/Mark Hall photo
Blenheim was a 1:54 winner in the Old Oaken Bucket.
Tight Lines went to the front on the first turn, with Barryscourt second and Dog Gone Lucky third. The group remained that way as Tight Lines hit the opening quarter in :27.2 and the half in :56.3, but just past the halfway point driver John Campbell put Blenheim in motion from fourth place.
Blenheim, sent off at odds of 5-1, worked his way to the leader, with 3-2 favorite Cufflink Hanover in tow. As the field made its way around the final turn, Blenheim took the lead and trotted to victory.
“It’s a tough race, especially with a 10-horse field, and this horse had to do it overland with no cover,” Campbell said. “He went a real strong race.”
Blenheim is a gelded son of stallion Yankee Glide out of the mare Are You Ready and was purchased for $30,000 under the name Air Quote Hanover at the 2014 Lexington Selected Sale. His dam is a half-sister to 2012 Hambletonian Oaks winner Personal Style and his family includes Dan Patch Award-winner Almost An Angel.
He has won four of 14 races this year and earned $145,310 for owners Steve Organ, ASA Farm, and Thomas Nurmi.
Blenheim’s time was two-fifths of a second off Dennis’ stakes record, set in 2008.
“I only raced him once before at the Meadowlands (fourth in the Stanley Dancer Memorial) and I had some trouble getting his earplugs out or else I thought he might have been second,” added Campbell.
“Coming into the race I thought he would be very competitive with these horses. I had no real strategy with him today. I just wanted to get away cleanly. With 10 horses in a race like this, that is the priority. There were a couple of breakers but he still was able to get a clean trip. He is a nice horse and this is a very good win for him.”
— Kim French also contributed to this report
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