Aces High on Whisky Night
Aces High on Whisky Night
A bumper Friday night crowd, with a matching betting handle, was treated to some pulsating racing action, including a 15th lifetime win for the 12yo 'war horse', Ace Deuce
HIGHLIGHTS
Antonio Reyes had a riding double.
The handle came in at very healthy $559,060.
A very pleasant summer evening for ‘Whisky Smoke’ revellers to get the weekend party started. The track recovered from rain earlier in the week and remained fast all night
Race 1.
The Friday opener saw Rob and Sheena Maybin's EBONY EYES ($11.00) get a perfect ride by Chris Mamdeen, tracking the speed then angling to the three path on the final bend and drawing clear in the stretch to win in 1:19.21 for trainer Rob Maybin. Don and Sue Danard's B C CHU CHU was off a step slow again but quickly got in contention under Brian Boodramsingh, setting a sensible but contested pace of 23.01 and 47.34, and battling gamely through the late stages to clinch the runner-up spot for conditioner Mel Snow. Trinity West Stables STILETTOS ONLY had an encouraging debut, making a bold four-wide move on the stretch turn to join the leaders only to tire late to finish fourth. She was promoted to third after the disqualification of MS. STANFORD from third to fifth for interference in the stretch drive.
Race 2.
The second race went to Barbara Heads' ACE DEUCE ($7.20) who was afforded an extremely easy lead (24.91, 49.64 and 1:15.12) under Antonio Reyes and the 12- -year-old made no mistake, capitalizing on his golden opportunity to win in 1:47.68. Harold and Sandra Barroby's VANCOUVER'S HUNTER made a nice move late under Kimal Santo to claim the second spot and Rockfield Farm's TIMELESS SHRUG was a pace presence and held well to be a longshot third at 22-1 under Jose Sanchez.
Race 3.
The third of the night was won by Pocket Aces Racing Stable's SILVER ARROW ($3.40) who was patiently ridden by apprentice Fraser Aebly; ambling along at the back of affairs on the rail then, when called upon, responding with a solid late kick to breeze by the leaders in the lane as the heavy favourite to win in 1:48.92 for trainer Steve Henson. WYN Racing Stables DRILL BABY DRILL turned in a successful effort in her first try going long as she was a pace factor and stayed strong through the late stages to be second under Kimal Santo. Maureen Byrne's STRIKING VALUE led the field early through fractions of 24.43, 49.51 and 1:15.53, maintained her lead to the stretch but couldn't quite stay with the top two and ended up a close third.
Race 4.
The fourth event on the Friday program saw Warren Wilson, Neil Stajkowski, June Sutherland, Ross Switzer and Barry Hickman's BRIAN'S DE LEIGHT ($3.30) control a slow early tempo of 25.61, 50.06 and 1:14.21 under Antonio Reyes. He stayed strong throughout on the front end and wired the field in 1:46.26, giving trainer Charlene Miller her first victory of the season. Rob and Vicky Gilker's CROWN COUNCIL ran a big race, checking a clear second after challenging the winner from the half-mile pole to the finish. Harry Houlden and Ashley Martin's SHESBOURBONONICE was kept in a nice spot through the early going and, considering the slow pace, she produced a decent late run but couldn’t get near the top two and ended up third.
Race 5.
The fifth race of the day went to Don Danard and Mel Snow's ROSE OF TEXAS ($10.40) who set sail for the early lead (23.04, 46.91) from her outside gate, remained unchallenged throughout and drew off to an impressive score in 1:17.92 with Jose Sanchez in the saddle for trainer Mel Snow. Randy Lane and Roy Nelson's ISLAND LIVING ran another good one as she settled in behind the slow tempo under Fraser Aebly and ended up winning a tight battle for second over Bruce Unwin’s TOBESUNNY, with Jose Gomez in the irons, who ended up a close third.
Claims:
VISENYA was claimed by owner/trainer Greg Beneem
RACE 6
The sixth was won by Jordan Froelich's BELLAROO ($7.90) who spent the entire trip in the three path under Amadeo Perez and still proved best to win in 1:17.58 for trainer Dino Condilenios. Hastings Horsepower and Minnaloushe Stables LASTING LIGHT tried to make the lead but was forced to take back passing the stands for the first time, ending up in a dream spot in fourth on the rail, then got through on the fence the whole way but settled for second in a hard fought effort. WYN RajcingStables ICE BREAKER was far back early as she usually is when sprinting and came flying late but ran out of ground and finished third.
Claims:
AMANDA was claimed by owner Dreamtime Stable for trainer Greg Beneen
RACE 7
The last of the evening went to Bulldog Bros and Paul Lesmaurier's NO PEOPLE ($26.90) who was reserved early behind a very quick pace under Ridge Balgobin, then started to make good ground on the final bend and got up nearing the wire to claim victory for trainer Paul Lesmaurier in 1:19.22. Blue Willow Dairy and Forster Stable's CHI CHI’S SONG was also held back off the pace, taking advantage of the furious tempo, closed up the inside in the late going and just missed under Silvino Morales. Gary Johnson’s ALOBRAH was intent on getting to the front and led through spirited splits of 22.34 and 45.93 and she showed improved determination in the stretch, finishing third and beaten by a half-length for the all the money.
Racing resumes at Hastings on Sunday with another competitive seven-race card. The Action gets underway at 2pm.
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