Peaceful Way wins Oaks elimination
July 31, 2004,by Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA
Peaceful Way got the first spot available in next Saturday’s $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks for three-year-old trotting fillies on Saturday at The Meadowlands. Biding her time with driver John Campbell, in fourth place, the early fractions of :27.4 were set by Ivy Swinger and Three Little Words (:55.3) at the half. By the 1:25.2 three quarters, Peaceful Way was on the move to second behind Three Little Words.
Lisa Photo
Peaceful Way trotted a career-best 1:52.3 to qualify for next Saturday’s $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks Final.
Campbell moved the daughter of Angus Hall in to the lead by the head of the stretch, and she held that lead down the stretch to win in 1:54.2 by a head over Ivy Swinger (S. Bouchard) and Housethatruthbuilt (Brian Sears). The other Hambletonian Oaks qualifiers were Silver Springs (David Miller) and Ladylind (Cat Manzi).
Peaceful Way is co-owned by trainer Dave Tingley, Angie Stiller and the Going My Way Stable. “I was not really concerned with being first over,” said Tingley. “John said she was not aggressive or up on the bit as she normally is. I don’t know if it’s the heat or she caught a bug. There is one going around so it’s a concern. It’s been 15 days since the Del Miller so this will tighten her up for next week. Her blood work will be back Monday but she was aggressive warming up. She’s just never raced in heat like this.” Tingley alluded to the choice of racing the filly in the Oaks, rather than the Hambletonian, “It was close – to have a potential shot to be in there and have a chance to win it, it was tempting.”
“I didn’t have a chance of getting back to the front before the last turn so I just came and rode easy with her and just made sure she trotted the last turn,” said driver John Campbell. “She had to grind it out and grit it out down by the wire. The economics of it [choosing to race in the Oaks vs The Hambletonian] are a lot different than it used to be. The Hambletonian Oaks used to go for $120,000 – 150,000, now it goes for $500,000. It’s a big difference. I think Dave made the right choice. We’ll see next week.”