by Dan Poprawski, for Hawthorne Race Course
Stickney, IL –– Heading into the final of the $107,000 Robert F. Carey, Jr. Memorial Pace at Hawthorne, Sagebrush looked to be the deserving heavy favorite as he was beaten only a nose in the prep for this race last weekend at 1-5. He wasn’t sent off as heavy of a choice, but at 3-5, he looked extremely tough. When all was said and done, Sagebrush was nowhere to be found while the rest of the field made show bettors very happy.
Breaking on top in the Carey was No Hassle as the Illinois-bred hustled to the front ahead of Themistokles, Frontstreet Marty and Parklane Powerful. No Hassle covered the opening quarter in :271 but was soon challenged as Parklane Powerful was first to move, taking over into the far turn while Sagebrush was following close behind.
Covering the half in :542, Parklane Powerful still held the lead into the turn while Sagebrush was working very hard to try to go by but couldn’t. As these two battled through three-quarters in a brisk 1:221, the field began to close in with King Tutpankhamen taking first shot at the leaders. King Tutpankhamen grabbed the lead in the final sixteenth and looked to be a winner when Brent Holland and Coastocoast Yankee tipped out widest of all and charged home to the victory in a track record time of 1:493, winning by three-quarters of a length over King Tutpankhamen. Longshot Themistokles closed for third while Parklane Powerful held fourth and Sagebrush faded to fifth.
For the win, Coastocoast Yankee earned $53,500 for owners Darby’s Edge Stable, Joseph DiScala, Jr. and C. Ed Mullinax and trainer Virgil Morgan, Jr. The winner’s share boosted Coastocoast Yankee’s earnings to $303,088.
With the favorite Sagebrush out, large payouts were returned to the bettors as Coastocoast Yankee came back $17.40, $8.60 and $25.40 to show. King Tutpankhamen returned $6.40 and $14.00 while Themistokles came back $51.60 to show.
Full order of finish for the Robert F. Carey, Jr. Memorial
1st – #7 – Coastocoast Yankee
2nd – #4 – King Tutpankhamen
3rd – #5 – Themistokles
4th – #2 – Parklane Powerful
5th – #3 – Sagebrush
6th – #1 – Frontstreet Marty
7th – #6 – No Hassle