Gordon Waterstone

Lexington, KY — The 2-year-old colt pacer Caughtinalandslide may not have had the best of luck on the racetrack thus far in his fledgling career, but he’s had nothing but good fortune when it comes to drawing post positions. Over his first three qualifying races and then his first three pari-mutuel starts, Caughtinalandslide drew post one every time.

And location didn’t matter as the half-dozen starts were at four different tracks, with the streak including a pair of qualifiers at the fairgrounds in Delaware, Ohio, another qualifier at Eldorado Scioto Downs, his pari-mutuel debut also at Scioto, an overnight at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, and a Kentucky Commonwealth Series division at The Red Mile.

Caughtinalandslide will make his next start on Monday afternoon (Aug. 16) in the second leg of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series for trainer Brian Brown. USTA photo.

“You know what, that never even dawned on me until now,” admitted trainer Brian Brown, who is based at the Delaware fairgrounds, when the string of post ones was pointed out to him.

Caughtinalandslide will make his next start on Monday afternoon (Aug. 16) in the second leg of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series, but for the first time he won’t be lining up in post one. This time around he didn’t fare so well as he “only” drew post two in the first of two $20,000 splits (race two) with Todd McCarthy driving. He is listed at morning-line odds of 8-1.

Caughtinalandslide had a second, fourth, and third in his first three qualifying attempts, and then he finished third in his pari-mutuel debut on July 8 at Scioto Downs. Following a seventh-place finish his next time out on July 21 at Hoosier Park, Brown decided to tinker with equipment for the colt’s Aug. 2 start in a $20,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series division. The changes seemed to work as Caughtinalandslide finished second, race-timed in 1:52.2 with a last quarter of :26.4.

“So far, he’s just been dumb, lazy, didn’t care, and never finished good,” said Brown. “But that horse, for his last start, I made a bridle change and we did some work to his ankles, and now he’s starting to act like he wants to be a racehorse. Since the bridle change and the ankles, he’s starting to put it together. He was much improved last start and he trained really good (Friday).”

A son of Always B Miki, Caughtinalandslide is out of the Somebeachsomewhere mare Parlee Beach, a winner of $331,249 who is a half-sister to the $1.3 million winner Western Graduate, the $450,000 winner Western Alumni and a full sister to the $208,868 winner Franky’s Beach Boy. He was purchased for $75,000 as a yearling under the name Always B Alex by Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco, Milt Leeman and Acadia Farms from breeder Susan Ryan.

Brown said he remains optimistic Caughtinalandslide’s form will continue to improve.

“He’s not a Sires Stakes horse, but he’s starting to come around and show something,” said Brown. “He’s actually grown a lot in the last month and filling out. I think the lightbulb is coming on and he’s starting to act like a racehorse.

“We have him in the (Blooded Horse Summer Sale on Aug. 24 at Springfield, Ohio), but if he keeps progressing I’d think we’d keep him as he might turn into a decent horse next year.”

When asked about the streak of post ones finally broken, Brown couldn’t resist to answer with a laugh, “As dumb as he is, he won’t know the difference between post one and post two.”

Brown will have a second Kentucky Commonwealth starter in Six Feet Apart, who lines up in post three in the second division (race three). Coming off an impressive 1:51 win in his career debut last time out on Aug. 2 in a Kentucky Commonwealth split, Six Feet Apart is listed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite with driver David Miller.

A son of Sweet Lou out of the unraced mare Ideal Love, Six Feet Apart was a $21,000 yearling purchase by Michael Dean Robinson, Robert Mondillo, David Meola and Rich Lombardo Racing.