from the USTA Communications Department

Lexington, KY — A pair of $111,000 divisions of the Glen Garnsey Memorial for 3-year-old filly pacers were contested on Saturday (Oct. 6) at The Red Mile.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Economy Terror (6) defeated American Jewel at the wire in 1:50 to win the second division of the Glen Garnsey Memorial.

In the second division, Economy Terror nipped Amercan Jewel at the wire to score in a time of 1:50. Shelliscape was third. Dave Palone was in the bike for trainer Chris Oakes and owners Chuck Pompey, Howard Taylor and Edwin Gold. The win was the fifth in 12 trips behind the gate this year for Economy Terror who lifted her season’s earnings to $374,430.

Economy Terror was the early leader, hitting the quarter pole on top in :27.3, before yielding to American Jewel who set middle panels of :55.4 and 1:23.1. American Jewel was challenged on the outside by Shelliscape in the stretch and managed to hold that one off, but she could not rebuff the late charge of Economy Terror, who won in a photo finish.

“For two years every week I’ve been waiting for this to happen (beating American Jewel),” said an elated co-owner Howard Taylor. “In the lane I didn’t think she would get there, but then when she started surging I knew she would.

“She has had some bad luck this year, but the difference today was she was put in the right position.

“I had almost given up that she was ever going to beat American Jewel and I’ve won some races at The Red Mile but this is the first time I’ve been in the winner’s circle as an owner. It’s on to the Breeders Crown and you can’t imagine how great this feels. Finally.”

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Romantic Moment won the opening division on the front-end in 1:50.3 for driver Yannick Gingras.

The opening division saw Brittany Farms’ Romantic Moment post her ninth win of the season, pacing a front-end mile in 1:50.3. Yannick Gingras was in the bike for trainer Jimmy Takter as the daughter of American Ideal-Time N Again lifted her 2012 earnings to $801,002.

Romantic Moment ($2.40) cleared to the front at the opening panel in :28.3 and was never seriously challenged through subsequent fractions of :56.3, 1:24 and 1:50.3. She paced her back half in :54 and the final quarter in :26.3.

Destiny’s Chance finished second and Rockaround Sue was third.

Romantic Moment was second in her Bluegrass division to Shelliscape after a first over trip last week, but driver Yannick Gingras said that trip did not seem to bother her today.

“No not at all. Of course it was an easier trip (today). I got to send her a little, then dropped in until the first turn, but she’s a strong filly and she’s only had a handful of tough starts.

“She’s raced in New York (Sire Stakes all year) so she is fresh and ready to go.”

— Kimberly French also contributed to this report