Northfield, OH – Saturday’s (August 9) Grade 2 $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial at MGM Northfield Park will feature competitors from all over North America, but for one of the horses racing, they’d love to make it a ‘first’ for their state.
Hailing from “The First State” known as Delaware, Primo (meaning first) Maschio has pointed to the Milstein since winning the $110,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund Final at Harrington on July 17.
“We were hoping to get an invitation after his win at Harrington. He did it so easily and we are excited to be part of the race on Saturday,” said Kevin Lare, trainer.
Owner, Forrest Barlett, who owned 1986 Horse of the Year Forrest Skipper, purchased Primo Maschio after he and Lare watched him in a mini-series at Ocean Downs. The connections were very interested after find out the horse was Delaware-eligible.
“He raced very well at Ocean Downs and we were impressed with what we saw. We reached out to Michael Hall who had him at the time and Forrest purchased him,” said Lare.
The purchase has taken his connections on a ride they won’t soon forget. In his first start in the new barn, Primo Maschio romped to a 13-3/4 length victory in a Maryland Standardbred Race Fun at Ocean Downs. Following another powerful victory against conditioned company at Harrington, it was time to see what exactly they had with their talented gelding.
After winning two Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund eliminations, he cruised to a 2-1/2 length win in the $110,000 Final at Harrington which showed he had speed on a half-mile. The connections gave their prized gelding a month off before the next round of Breeders’ Fund races and after two seconds in eliminations, the son of Badlands Hanover turned it on in the Final and won by four lengths in 1:53.4.
Coming back as a 3-year-old, Primo Maschio continued to mature, reeling off three straight victories before shipping to Plainridge for a try against Grand Circuit company in the $100,000 Paul Revere Stakes.
Luck was not on Primo Maschio’s side that afternoon.
When leaving from the gate, he grabbed a shoe and almost made a break. Driver Walter Case Jr. helped the gelding compose himself but couldn’t find position on the rail. Case drove on with Primo Maschio through a testing :26.2 first quarter.
Coming to the half, Primo was passed by rivals and when entering the backstretch he got mired in traffic trouble.
“Had he not grabbed a shoe at the start, I think we would have had a different outcome at Plainridge,” Lare said. “He raced very good up there, considering all of the circumstances, we were happy with his effort.”
Primo Maschio received some time off and returned to his winning ways in two DSBF eliminations and an Open Handicap at Ocean Downs in a lifetime best 1:51.3. He then headed to the $110,000 Final at Harrington.
Again, He proved to easily be the best in the field. After taking the lead, he took no prisoners, set quick fractions and cruised to a 2-1/4 length victory in 1:53.1.
Entering Saturday’s $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial, the connections of Primo Maschio are glad to have a little luck on their side as they compete against Grand Circuit company again.
“With having drawn the rail, I think we have a huge advantage. We just need a little racing luck to be on our side,” Lare said.
If the talented gelding crosses the line first on Saturday, Lare will be excited for all of the connections and for The First State as well.
“Winning the Milstein would be a great feather in Primo Maschio’s cap, and it would also say a lot about Delaware-bred horses being able to compete at the top level,” said Lare.