Racing Roundup: Sir Caviar shrugs off challenge, wins fourth straight at the Meadows
October 24, 2011,from harness publicists across North America
Monday’s (Oct. 24) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows and Monticello Raceway. Sir Caviar shrugs off challenge, wins fourth straight at the Meadows Washington, PA — Faced with a serious challenge from a new shooter, Sir Caviar reached down for more in the stretch and won his fourth straight in Monday’s $22,500 Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows. Although Sir Caviar had dominated most of Monday’s competitors throughout the year, the field included the upstart Jessesjo, who advanced to the Preferred after three consecutive wins in conditioned events. Moreover, the challenger got a comfortable pocket trip behind Sir Caviar on a sloppy, tiring racing surface. But when Jessesjo tipped off the cones for the drive, Sir Caviar responded for Brian Zendt by kicking in another gear and scoring in 1:54.2, three-quarters of a length better than Jessesjo. The first-over Springboard was third. Leslie Zendt trains Sir Caviar, a 5-year-old SJ’s Caviar-Sierra Flower K gelding who has recorded 23 wins over the past two seasons, and owns with Bill Zendt. In the companion feature, the $22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Trot, Caviar Forthe Lady made it look easy once more, roaring to the front from post eight and scoring unchallenged for Charlie Norris in 1:57.2. Victory Is Coming rallied from last for second, 2-1/4 lengths back, with Spectacular Bay third. Marty Wollam trains Caviar Forthe Lady, a 5-year-old daughter of SJ’s Caviar-Croupier Lady who triumphed for the third time in her last four starts and now boasts $548,406 in lifetime earnings for Acadia Farms. The victory capped a big day for Norris, who earlier on the card notched career win 2,000. Dave Palone drove five winners — four for trainer Ron Burke — on the 14-race program while Aaron Merriman fashioned a triple. — Evan Pattak
Monticello Raceway
If Blue Creek Angie isn’t a model of consistency, than who is? With her 1:57 victory at Monticello Raceway on Monday afternoon, the 8-year-old On The Attack mare won her fourth consecutive race and 15th of the season. And with 16 wins last year, Blue Creek Angie is one of the few horses who can claim 30 wins in the past two years. Her path to victory was a usual one. After Bruce Aldrich, Jr. sent her to the front from the pylon position, they made every pole a winning one while holding off a late charge along the passing lane by Notimefordreaming, who was driven by Zeke Parker. That victory vaulted Blue Creek Angie’s lifetime earnings to more than $200,000. It’s no secret that Aldrich and Parker have been locked in a battle for leading driver honors here and the rivalry continued on Monday afternoon. Aldrich had two wins on the card and Parker countered with two himself. In a competition that has swayed back and forth for the two competitors, last week Aldrich broke out and jumped away to a nine-win lead. With both drivers winning two races on the Oct. 24 card, the lead remains nine in Aldrich’s favor, 320-311.