Racing Roundup: Whythehellnot N wins Dover feature
March 6, 2009,from Harness Publicists across North America
Thursday’s (March 5) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Dover Downs, Maywood Park, Saratoga Raceway, and Cal-Expo. Whythehellnot N wins Thursday feature at Dover Dover, DE — Whythehellnot N won the stretch battle in the $14,500 male pace feature on Thursday at Dover Downs.
Fotowon photo Whythehellnot N scored in a lifetime best 1:51.3. Tim Curtin drove Whythehellnot N to a second straight victory in the feature for Neil Chesen, Wayne Hurtubise and Wahoo Stables. Wynnfield Scamp (Corey Callahan) was right at his shoulder during the stretch duel with Dina’s Gamble (Brandon Givens) finishing a close third.
Sam Beegle trains the 5-year-old Christian Cullen-Whythelongface N horse who scored in 1:51.3, the fastest win time of his career.
— Marv Bachrad
Castin pulls off upset in Ideal Society Series Final
Melrose Park, IL — Despite pulling off an impressive 18-1 shocker in round two of the Ideal Society Series last week at Balmoral Park, Castin was once again overlooked in the wagering in Thursday’s $9,000 finale of this non-winners of four series at Maywood Park. Once again the altered 4-year-old made his doubters pay as he rallied in the final strides to post a neck decision in 1:56.4.
Maywood Park photo
Castin and driver Dean Magee rallied in the final strides to win Thursday’s $9,000 Ideal Society Series Final.
Leaving from post position five, Castin (Dean Magee) was kept well off the hot early pace that was being set by preliminary victors Ram It In (Sam Widger) and Dylan Rocks (Rick Dane, Jr.). Magee was content to pace along in sixth with his charge as the top two battled through an opening quarter in :27.1. Remaining in sixth but drawing a bit closer to the pacesetters, Castin was only six lengths behind the top pair as they rolled through a half-mile in a bruising :56.3.
With a live outer flow starting to develop as the field moved down the backside for the final time, Magee tipped the son of Allamerican Ingot three wide while Dylan Rocks and a first over Gordo’s Z Tam (Mike Oosting) slugged it out as the field reached the three-quarter-mile station in 1:26.2.
Chewing up ground on the far outside of horses, Castin quickly started to reel in a group of tiring horses. Just three lengths behind the top pair as the field turned for home a fit and fresh Castin collared the embattled leaders in the final strides to record his second win in eight starts this year. Ram It In took advantage of a perfect ground saving trip to finish second while Gordo’s Z Tam was a hard fought third.
Much to the delight of his backers the homebred gelding returned a handsome win mutuel of $46.40 while running his career earnings up to $26,697 for owner-trainer Dennis Brightwell.
— Tom Kelley
Bluebird Superstar scores at Saratoga
Saratoga Springs, NY — Bluebird Superstar gave her connections a double on the first night race card of the season at Saratoga on Thursday.
Dave Oxford photo
Bluebird Superstar was a 2:03.2 winner at Saratoga.
The win for the 6-year-old mare was the second in two lifetime starts at the Spa but her first since moving to trainer Paul Zabielski’s barn. Defending driving champion Frank Coppola, Jr. was in tow for the front running victory in 2:03.2 as Bluebird Superstar held off the late brush from Digital Photo in the $5,500 trotting event.
Zabielski and Coppola teamed up earlier in the card for a win with Rodeo Spree as the claiming mare also prevailed in her first race of 2009, stopping the timer in 2:00.1.
Both Bluebird Superstar and Rodeo Spree are owned by Kim Zabielski of Porters Corners, N.Y.
Live racing is in full force now at Saratoga with racing continuing this weekend on Friday and Saturday nights at 7:05 p.m. while a 13-race matinee card will start at 12:45 p.m. on Sunday.
— Dave Oxford
Sintillating is the pocket rocket at Cal-Expo
Sacramento, CA — Filly & Mare conditioned pacers, racing for a purse of $4,000, were featured at Cal-Expo on Thursday night, in which Sintillating showed her class.
Leaving from post position one to push the pace in the field of nine, Sintillating and trainer Tim Maier would gladly yield the lead to Amber Delight (Bruce Clarke) just after an eighth of a mile into a :29.1 opening quarter.
“That was the trip I was looking to get from the start,” said Maier. “I was happy to be there, especially since I was aware that the front wasn’t the place to be tonight.”
With no pressure for Amber Delight, she’d pace a very easy :30.3 second quarter while reaching the half-mile station in :59.4. Bottled up in the third quarter as the tempo remained tepid, Sintillating now found herself locked in the box at the three-quarter pole, timed in 1:29.1. Finding room and on the move at the seven-eighths-mile marker, Sintillating briefly surprised her pilot.
“When I pulled her, she kind of overreacted and kind of went sideways, which was because this was the first time since she was two that she wore an open bridle. I wasn’t concerned though because I was able to straighten her out and she went to her business.”
Indeed the 5-year-old did get down to business as she’d wear down Amber Delight late to win ($6.80) by one length. Bred and owned by Alan Kirschenbaum and Denise Maier, Sintillating would stop the timer at 1:57. My Fanny (Rick Plano), who followed the winner, came on to the wire to finish in second, and Amber Delight finished another three-quarters of a length farther back in third.
“She was just starting to get into gear when we got to the wire. It was a very good improved effort,” finished Maier.
On the Thursday night card, Cal-Expo’s leading driver, Luke Plano, had four winners.
— Scott Ehrlich