Racing Roundup: Chloes Silver Star scores in Mares Open at Dover
April 1, 2009,from Harness Publicists across North America
Tuesday’s (March 31) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Dover Downs, Hoosier Park and Monticello Raceway.
Chloes Silver Star scores in Mares Open at Dover
Dover, DE — Chloes Silver Star, one of Ron Pierce’s four wins, took the $32,000 Mares Open Pace on Tuesday at Dover Downs.
Fotowon photo
Chloes Silver Star was a 1:52.3 winner in the Dover feature.
A late charge by Chloes Silver Star resulted in a 1:52.3 victory in the female feature. Hopefull N cut out the early fractions with Brandon Givens in the bike. Nearing the finish line, Pierce hustled his Intrepid Seelster-Silver Chloe 5-year-old into high gear and she went on to the victory. Hopefull N held on for second. Ladyfield, with Tony Morgan, also came on fast to finish third.
Chloes Silver Star has now won three times with two seconds and three thirds in her 12 starts in 2009. She has now banked $73,660 this year for Gary Evans and Foulk Stables.
Tim Tetrick recorded his third win of the day, steering Lorna Cohen’s Shady Sabrina to victory in the $25,000 Mares Jr. Open Pace. The Cam’s Dignity-Mymymymysharona 7-year-old negotiated the mile in 1:53.4, scoring her third triumph of the campaign in eight starts. Real Janna (Eric Goodell) came on fast to finish second in front of India A (Ross Wolfenden).
— Marv Bachrad
S F Aceinthehole splits rivals for win in Hoosier trot
Anderson, IN — S F Aceinthehole added another victory for Hoosier Park’s leading driver Peter Wrenn on Tuesday in the $25,000 Invitational Trot. The longshot selection trotted over the sloppy track in a time of 1:58.4 to earn his third win in eight 2009 outings.
S F Aceinthehole was a 1:58.4 winner in the Invitational Trot.
Starting from post two in the nine-horse lineup, S F Aceinthehole abided by Wrenn’s instructions, opting for a seat near the back of the pack. Race favorite Speed N The Tunnel and Sam Widger moved out for the first lead at the quarter-mile marker in :28, before being overtaken by Universal Star and Jason Dillander down the backside. Middle fractions of :57.3 and 1:28.1 were set before a new leader emerged in the stretch.
Partridge Hanover and Ricky Macomber, Jr. were in the center of the track and ready to attack. Speed N The Tunnel was not giving too much slack along the inside and fought to maintain his positioning. In the final sixteenth of the race, Wrenn was able to split horses and surge home with S F Aceinthehole for the win by more than one length. Speed N The Tunnel held inside for second over Partridge Hanover.
“I think the off track actually played to his (S F Aceinthehole) advantage,” said Wrenn. “He consistently comes home in :29 or :30 seconds and the slower track probably hurt the other horses. He also got a better trip this week and was able to drift along until the stretch.”
S F Aceinthehole now has 12 wins in 36 career starts. The 4-year-old son of Ciro Ambrosio increased his earnings to more than $77,000 with his latest effort. His career mark of 1:57.1 was taken earlier this year at Windsor Raceway.
“We bought this horse (S F Aceinthehole) last summer,” said Wrenn, who also serves as the trainer. “Midway through the winter, he started coming around. We put trotting hopples on him and he started getting better.”
S F Aceinthehole is owned by Dan and Tom Courtemanche. He is one of 25 horses in Wrenn’s shedrow, which is located at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Wrenn continues to lead the driver standings with 14 wins through the first six racing programs. The Michigan native maintains a driving average above .400 and is also tied atop the leading trainer standings with four other trainers with three wins.
Royalton Star and driver Andy Shetler showed true guts and determination in the $24,000 Invitational Pace. The duo overcame several obstacles to score the victory in a time of 1:53.4, just one tick of a second off their personal best, turned in the week before.
Linscott Photography
Royalton Star scored in 1:53.4 in the $24,000 Invitational Pace.
Starting from post three in the eight-horse lineup, Royalton Star was moving up in class to face the toughest pacers on the grounds. The 5-year-old Ohio-bred son of Threefold used a different form of attack this week, opting for a spot in the center of the pack as Vapor In The Wind and Ricky Macomber, Jr. found the top spot before the first turn. Just past the quarter-mile marker in a time of :28.1, Elliott Deaton was out and moving with Roxies Big Guy, taking control before the halfway point in :57.
Roxies Big Guy was immediately challenged by Jay Cross and Rocket Fuel, the third leader of the race heading into the final turn. Shetler had Royalton Star right at Jay Cross’s back and had to endure the second half of the mile from the outside. Passing the three-quarter marker in a time of 1:24, Rocket Fuel was not going to give in without a fight. Neither was Royalton Star.
Both horses matched each other stride for stride through the stretch drive, with Royalton Star getting the final edge at the wire by one length. Roxies Big Guy held gamely for third.
“I thought this horse (Royalton Star) would be good on a big track,” said Shetler. “He has come some pretty big last halves up at Northfield. He’s perfect to drive and you can drive him any way you want. He loves cover, and he also loves to come from behind. I didn’t want to leave with him last week, but had no choice. He raced really well tonight.”
Royalton Star was a surprise to most bettors, returning $19.00, $10.40, and $4.40 across the board. He now has six wins in nine starts for 2009 for breeder, owner, and trainer Max Shaw.
“He (Royalton Star) has always been on a smaller track until last week,” said Shaw. “I figured he would do better on a bigger track because he’s a pretty big horse. He’s always been gutsy. So far, I’m real happy with him.”
Shaw bought and raced Royalton Star’s mother, Cinder Sandy, who earned $65,000 during her career. The Look Sharp mare is a half-sister to Cinder Lane Sam, the tough Ohio-sired Nobleland Sam gelding that garnered more than $600,000 during his career.
“This is the most money he (Royalton Star) has ever won in one race, and the biggest race he’s been in other than the Ohio Sires Stakes final as a 3-year-old,” said Shaw. “He was fifth in the final and came back a day and a half later to win at the Wauseon Fair (Fulton County Fair) in 1:54.2. That is our home fair and we always try to support the racing program there.”
Royalton Star now has 23 career wins in 55 career starts. He has boosted his career earnings to more than $88,000.
— Tammy Knox
Cactus Creek wins at Monticello
Monticello, NY — The speedy 6-year-old Artsplace gelding Cactus Creek made a laugher out of Monticello Raceway’s pacing feature on Tuesday when Jimmy Marohn, Jr. guided the former Adios Pace winner to an oh-so-easy four length triumph in a 1:55.1 clocking.
With the sun shining brightly and the race track in top form, Cactus Creek made his Mighty M debut and though the pacer was sent off at odds of over 5-1 (fifth best in the eight-horse field) from post position seven, Marohn gunned his charge to the front and they played catch me if you can.
And nobody could.
In fact nobody came within two lengths of the leader throughout the mile and at the finish the margin of victory was widened to four lengths. Freehold Raceway invader Jaguar Jet was the 3-2 betting favorite in the race and rallied from fourth at the three-quarters to finish second for Kyle DiBenedetto. Tom’s Weath, with Mike Forte aboard, took home the show dough.
“He (Cactus Creek) had his A-game today,” driver Jimmy Marohn, Jr. said in the winner’s circle after his victory. “I was just a passenger.”
A winner of over $420,000 lifetime, three years ago Cactus Creek visited The Meadows’ winner’s circle after a stunning 1:50.2 victory in the famed Adios Pace for driver Mike Lachance.
Now the property of Reginald Duquay, Cactus Creek paid $12.40 for win.
— John Manzi