Stars of 2003 in qualifiers at The Red Mile
March 9, 2004,by Nick Salvi, The Red Mile
Lexington, KY — Several of the stars of 2003 made appearances in qualifying races at the Red Mile on Tuesday morning.
Jack Gray, Jr’s Delmartha, second in the Breeders Crown Final last year, made her 2004 debut a winning one for driver Dan Shetler. She led at every call and trotted the mile in 2:014 and finished ahead of Moscow Nights and Self Discovery.
Armbro Animate, the winner of the Coors Delvin Miller Adios and second in the Meadowlands Pace Final on his way to $500,000 earnings in 2003, held off harness racing’s richest active pacer, Gallo Blue Chip, by a neck in 1:58. Both pacers are owned by Martin Scharf and both are trained in Kentucky by Pete Foley for the Mark Ford stable. Yannick Gingras flew in from New Jersey to drive the some of the Ford horses, including the winner.
The sharp looking sophomore All My Life won the first of four races for the Pete Foley-Mark Ford connection in 1:59 and well in hand to driver Dan Shetler, who drove three winners on the morning’s card. Sampson Street Stable, Deena Frost, and Jerry Silva are the proud owners of this Life Sign colt, who looks to have a future. Victory Dot Com and Lecter Hanover followed the winner under the wire.
Brandon’s Cowboy, third in the 2year-old Breeders Crown Final last year, was an impressive, wire-to-wire winner in 1:58 and posted a :28 final quarter-mile. Dan Shetler was aboard the Martin Scharf-owned The Panderosa colt. Boys Town and Swingman, also trained by Foley, were second and third, respectively.
The Red Mile will hold qualifying races each Tuesday throughout the spring. Many of the horsemen stabled in Lexington through the winter plan to race at Hoosier Park.