by Paul Ramlow, assistant publicity director, United States Trotting Association
Lexington, KY — A pair of $112,400 divisions of the Bluegrass – Transylvania for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters were on the 14-race card on Saturday afternoon (October 2) at The Red Mile.
In the opening split, Kenneth Klein and Old Block Stables Inc.’s Al Dente Hanover came charging down the lane to post an upset in a lifetime best clocking of 1:54.3. Luc Ouellette was in the sulky for trainer Joe Caraluzzi as the gelded son of Donerail posted his fourth victory in 15 season’s starts, improving his 2004 earnings to $212,329.
Heavily favored Tom Ridge (Ron Pierce) left strongly from post position four and cut fractions of :27.4, :56.1, and 1:25.4. Lantern’s Law (Mark O’Mara), who enjoyed the pocket trip, pulled on the final turn to challenge the leader and trotted right on by, but he could not withstand the surge of Al Dente Hanover, who drew off to an easy triumph. Con Man (John Patterson, Jr.) also trotted strongly in the stretch to nip Lantern’s Law for the place check. Tom Ridge faded to fourth, while Mr McNally (Dan Shetler) grabbed the final check.
In the second division of the Bluegrass – Transylvania, Margaret Magerko’s Sky Watch took advantage of Show Me The Monet’s break at the wire to be placed first in a time of 1:55.4.
Mike Lachance steered the brown son of Self Possessed to his fourth win in 14 ’04 starts. He has now cashed $95,447 in season’s winnings for trainer Ron Gurfein.
Beardmore (John Campbell) fired quickly from post nine to take the field to the opening quarter in :28. Show Me The Monet (Don Irvine, Jr.) brushed to the lead on the backstretch and set middle fractions of :57.4 and 1:27.1.
Trotting down the stretch, Show Me The Monet had opened up a big lead and looked like a lock, but he tired in the late moments of the race and went off stride shortly before hitting the wire first. The judges ruled that Show Me The Monet was lapped on to the fast closing Sky Watch and he was subsequently placed back to second. Rocky Balboa (Ron Pierce) earned the third place check.