by Paul Ramlow, USTA Internet News Manager
Columbus, OH — The Saturday (Oct. 10) card at The Red Mile featured three divisions in the $306,000 Bluegrass Stakes for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters.
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Explosive Matter won his Bluegrass division in a time of 1:52.4.
Adam Victor & Son Stable’s Explosive Matter was very impressive in capturing the $102,000 final division of the Bluegrass, drawing off in the stretch for a 2-3/4 length victory over Swan For All (Jody Jamieson) in 1:52.4. P J Clark (Andy Miller) was third.
The victory was the fifth in 12 season’s starts for the Cantab Hall-Fireworks Hanover colt, who has now banked $1,136,501 this year. Ron Pierce was in the bike for trainer Noel Daley.
My Back Pages and George Brennan fired out of the gate from post eight and took the field to the opening quarter in :28. The action was fast and furious on the backstrech as Swan For All moved to the front, only to give up the top spot to Explosive Matter by the :57.1 half-mile marker.
Explosive Matter was still in control at the 1:25.3 three-quarter pole with P J Clark putting pressure on the leader on the outside. Heading for home, Explosive Matter was still strong and drew off from the competition to post the easy victory.
“We’re a clear number two (among the top 3-year-old trotting colts this year),” said Daley. “Muscle Hill is a great horse. It is what it is. My horse is a good horse, too. It’s great to win when he’s not around.”
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USTA/Ed Keys photos
Tom Cango and Brian Sears were 1:55.4 winners in the opening Bluegrass division.
In the $102,000 first division, Arlene and Jules Siegel’s Tom Cango rallied from far back in the stretch to emerge on top in a time of 1:55.4. Brian Sears was in the bike for trainer Jim Campbell as the Tom Ridge-B Cor Tamgo colt posted his third win in 12 season’s starts, with his share of the purse hiking his 2009 bankroll to $147,935.
The Chancellor (Andy Miller) cut the fractions in this race, taking the field to the opening quarter in :28.3, the half in :57.2 and the three-quarters in 1:27.1. Heading for home, trotters were coming from everywhere and Tom Cango found room in the middle of the racetrack and took command on his way to the 1:55.4 score. Howthehaloareyou (George Brennan) also rallied to finish second, one length behind the winner, while Airzoom Lindy (Tim Tetrick) was third. The Chancellor faded to seventh.
“We waited on him a long time and he seems to have come along at the right spot,” said co-owner Jules Siegel.
In the $102,000 middle division, Neighsay Hanover also came from well off the leaders in the stretch to pull out a narrow victory in a time of 1:55.1. Owned by Theodore Gewertz, Willow Pond LLC, Leif Alber and Martha Frank, the Muscles Yankee-Nan’s Conway colt posted his third win in 19 trips to the post this year, improving his ’09 earnings to $413,086 for trainer Trond Smedshammer.
Citation Lindy and Ray Schnittker cut opening half fractions of :28.4 and :57.2 in this division, before Broadway Bistro (George Brennan) took command at the 1:26.1 three-quarter pole. Driver Brian Sears had Neighsay Hanover flying down the stretch and he had just enough to nip Broadway Bistro by a half-length at the wire. Cantabmyway (Ron Pierce) was third.
“He’s been pretty steady and consistent all year,” said Smedshammer of the winner. “We’re heading to the Breeders Crown and then the Matron.”
Editor’s Note: To view a photo slideshow of the day’s racing on Flickr, click here.