Racing Roundup: Ubetterthink Think longshot winner at Pocono
October 28, 2009,from Harness Publicists across North America
Wednesday’s (October 28) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, The Meadows, Colonial Downs, Harrington Raceway and Pompano Park.
Ubetterthink Think longshot winner at Pocono
Wilkes Barre, PA — Ubetterthink Think, driven by Jason Bartlett, captured the $30,000 open pace for fillies and mares at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs Wednesday (Oct. 28) night.
Leaving from post position four in the nine-horse field of gals, Bartlett sat fourth for the first half of the mile as Larry Stalbaum and Quicksilvercandy A took the field to the opening stanza in 26.4 and half in 55.
Ubetterthink Think stopped the timer in 1:52.4 as a 9-1 shot and proved to be the spoiler for the Pick 7 wager with the jackpot now standing at $87,004.16 going into the Friday night card at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The six of seven consolation tickets paid $1,937.80 for a $2 bet.
This was the 12th win in 35 starts for the 5-year-old Bettor’s Delight mare trained by Mark Ford.
Twin Oaks Tess (Tom Jackson) finished second in the race with third-place going to Esmeralda Semalu (Joe Pavia Jr.).
— John Zimich
Gold Strike hits mother lode in Meadows Series final
Washington, PA — Gold Strike used the live cover of Liz to gain striking position, then blew by to destroy the field and capture the $23,450 final of the Mary Wohlmuth Memorial Series for freshman filly trotters Wednesday at The Meadows.
Gold Strike was frustrated in last week’s preliminary leg when she had Liz in her sights despite a tough trip, yet fell a half-length short. But in the sloppy going Wednesday, she cruised up behind Liz at Aaron Merriman’s urging and found yet another gear, drawing off to win by 9-1/4 lengths in 1:59.1. Chiptoria rallied from well back for second while the discouraged Liz, who saw her four-race win streak snapped, saved show.
Paul Kennedy, Jr., who trains Gold Strike for Markus Ernst, said the daughter of Ken Warkentin-Alphabet Love can leave the switch but that the connections preferred a covered trip leaving from the rail.
“She can race both ways, but with the rail, we just wanted to be sure,” Kennedy said. “We didn’t want to make a mistake and end our season on a bad note. We brought her along slowly because she had a little trouble shying from whips and other horses. She’s come along well. She has a pretty good mind on her.”
He said Gold Strike, a $30,000 yearling acquisition, will be turned out and pointed to next year’s Ontario Sires Stakes.
“I think she can compete with those types,” he said.
The $27,500 Preferred Handicap Trot unfolded as a battle of track record holders when Michaelrowyourboat outdueled Rembrandt Spur to score by a neck in 1:55.4. Heza Challenger finished third. Jimmy Smith trains and drives the 4-year-old gelded son of Victory Sam-Tall Sunflower for Flowing Mineral Farm.
Michaelrowyourboat, who pushed his career bankroll to $414,160, holds the all-age trotting mark (1:52.3) at The Meadows while Rembrandt Spur earlier this year trotted in 1:53.3, a track and world record for 3-year-old geldings.
Tony Hall and Dick Stillings each drove three winners on the 15-race card.
— Evan Pattak
Two-Year-Old Virginia-Breds prep for “Day of Champions” at Colonial DownsNew Kent, VA — Whatamach cruised to a wire-to-wire victory in the fastest of two $4,000 Virginia-bred 2-year-old colt/gelding elimination pacing events Wednesday night at Colonial Downs.
Freshmen standardbreds, both pacers and trotters of both sexes competed for a chance to return November 7 on the track’s annual “Day of Champions” card. The male pacing division was the only category that required eliminations—the other three were merely prep races.
Whatamach earned his first life victory for trainer Francis Raia II in 1:55.2. Betting choice Hambone Snooky was parked out the entire race and finished third, while Tidewater Buddy earned runner-up status. Reinsman Chris Page took over driving duties from Raia in guiding Whatamach to victory. Tidewater Moses and Ultimate Straight also earned a berth in the final.
In the other 2-year-old male pacing elimination, Charlie By Far surged past the entire field in deep stretch to pull out an upset win over a heavily favored Fran Raia II trained entry.
Sent off at 22-1, Charlie By Far made up for a break in his only other career start by crossing in 1:56.3. The Powerful Toy colt was guided by trainer/driver Bart Dalious. Raia’s entry of Rick’s Luck and Rick’s Jackpot finished second and third respectively, and all three will advance along with Blueridge Straight and Tidewaterprettyboy.
In other Virginia-bred action, Blueridge Bob Cat captured the colt/gelding trot in 2:01 over a pair of other entrants while Luring Maxine earned honors in the filly trot by finishing first in 2:03. In the filly pace, Tidewater Lilpaige took the division with a four-length triumph in 1:57.
— Katie Painter
Fivedollarsforsox surpasses seasonal earnings mark at Harrington
Harrington, DE — George and Tina Dennis and Ask W Stables’ Fivedollarsforsox ($8.80, George Dennis) surpassed $100,000 in seasonal earnings with a 1:56.4 win in the Wednesday’s $21,700 Junior Open Trot at Harrington Raceway.
The 6-year-old Sj’s Caviar gelding battled gamely first over before eventually clearing pacesetter Nice Dream in deep stretch and held off late charging Lt’s Best who rallied for second. It was the seventh win of the year for ‘Sox,’ who is also trained by George Dennis.
Harrington Raceway’s final night of racing for the 2009 meet is Thursday evening.
— Matt Sparacino
Florida Bred final at Pompano Park to Your Not My Friend
Pompano Beach, FL — The outside post draw luck to post nine, breaking horses around her in the first quarter and being passed early in the stretch was not enough to keep Your Not My Friend from winning the $19,800 final of the combined and Orchid and Pelican Series for 2-year-old Florida bred trotters on Wednesday evening.
Owner and trainer Robert Williams Jr. had driven the filly by Famously-She’s A Loan in all seven career starts prior to this series final when he handed over the lines to veteran Mickey McNichol.
Early in the stretch Your Not My Friend surrendered a lead to Jeanie Marie with Warren Harp in the bike and that rival drew away by almost two lengths before weakening at the tote board. Your Not My Friend mounted an improbable looking late win in battling back fashion in a life’s mark of 2:00.4. She’s A Winner with Tom Wantz in the bike finished third.
— Frank Salive