First of Many
Riding honours were shared between a headline-grabbing three-timer for leading rider Amadeo Perez and a first career win for apprentice jockey Fraser Aebly - and on just his second start!
HIGHLIGHTS
Fraser Aebly gets his first ever riding victory in just his second mount
Amadeo Perez rides a three-timer
Trainer Barbara Heads saddles a double
The handle came in at $581,827
The Pick 5 carryover is $7,715 and the Pick 6 sits at $3,622
Long Shadows cast from the grandstand saw racegoers eager to soak up the heat from the occasional patch of sun-soaked Tarmac. The muscle cars in attendance proved a popular distraction between races and the track remained fast under cloudless skies.
Race 1.
The Sunday opener went to Russ and Lois Bennett's BLACK METAL ($3.70) who was prominent early chasing sensible splits of 22.32 and 45.53 then drew alongside FINDING WAYS as the stretch approached and proved best in the final eighth under Amadeo Perez for trainer Barbara Heads to win in 1:17.43. Don Danard and Mel Snow's DRILLER ran a much improved race settling in behind the speed then shifted to the three path turning for home and was traveling well and nailed down second money late. The Goonshow Stables FINDING WAYS was in his customary spot on the lead and was left alone until the final turn but when collared at the eighth pole couldn’t stay with the winner and ended up losing second late and finished third.
Race 2.
The second of the afternoon was won by the G.O. Stables KOALA ($4.50) who suffered from a three wide trip on a quick pace (22.24, 46.10) but it didn’t matter as she drew away on the stretch turn and easily held her advantage to the wire in 1:17.83 under Amadeo Perez for trainer Erick Gutierrez. The Willow Creek Farms DO YOU WANNA GO was well back early watching the quick pace unfold then under Ridge Balgobin started to make a solid four wide move on the turn and just got up in deep stretch to claim the runner-up spot. The Hastings Racing Club's HOLLYWOOD MISTRESS was in a good striking position behind the three-way speed duel then was tipped out to the four path at the quarter pole and kept grinding along and just missed second ending up third.
Race 3.
The third event as expected went to the Canyon Farm’s FLORAL ($3.30) who broke a heartbeat slow which is the norm for her and then galloped up to join the slow pace on the stretch turn and put away her rivals inside the sixteenth pole to get her second straight triumph under Amadeo Perez for conditioner Craig MacPherson in 1:17.35. Dennis Spence’s THE KAT'S BACK settled nicely off of the slow early tempo ran on gamely to be second. Bob Leffler, Bryan Killins and Gord McCormick’s ANOTHERSUNNYDAY was afforded a very easy lead gliding through splits of 22.88 and 46.72 but couldn’t sprint with the top two to the wire and ended up third.
Race 4.
The fourth of the day was an exciting stretch duel that went to the High Stakes Thoroughbreds and John Snow's JUVEE TOO ($12.40) who was let settle into stride well back off of the leaders then put in a sharp move nearing the far turn and sustained that run to the wire to win by a nose under Ridge Balgobin for trainer John Snow in a quick time for the level of 1:17.51. The Canyon Farm's BAKLANE was off a step slow then rushed up the rail to gain command and set fractions of 22.65 a comfortable half-mile of 46.82 but when JUVEE TOO put a nose in front midway of the final turn she never could get the advantage back and checked in a hard fought second. The Hawaiian Shirt Guys FOOT SOLDIER broke well and was up on the lead but chose to sit in behind nearing the backside and settled the third spot and stayed there for the remainder of the race.
Race 5.
The fifth on the program went to Jim and Anne Alendal’s HARLAN'S ANGEL ($12.90) was super impressive today sitting just in behind JERSEY LILLIE who was setting an ambitious tempo (22.06, 45.08) HARLAN’S ANGEL got the better of that one and drew off to a convincing score with Efrain Hernandez in the irons in 1:17.35 for trainer Cindy Krasner. Rob and Sheena Maybin's BELLAROO was far back early and made a quick burst on the turn to make things interesting but could not get near the winner and ran second. Gary Johnson, Zeta Hannah, Sharlea and Pumpkin Stables ZETAMARIE who made a huge run from miles back to get into the third spot under Antonio Reyes for Hall-of-Fame conditioner Frank Barroby.
Race 6.
The sixth on the card went to heavily favoured class dropper VALUABLE COWBOY ($3.20) who sat off of a very quick pace and when it counted on the far turn easily breezed by the leaders to win going away in 1:17.53 for the owners Lindsay Racing Stables, Steen Reggelsen and Kathy Mydske and trainer Edgar Mendoza. The JT Racing and Ryan Deyotte's TRAPALIS was allowed to relax far off the pace then on the stretch turn he produced a good run to get second money but didn’t threaten the winner. The Canyon Farm's MONTE showed his usual blazing speed and opened up a big lead on the backstretch but that lead diminished nearing the head of the lane and did well to save the third spot.
Race 7.
The seventh race of the day saw Larry Potozny, Peter Langelaan and the Wil-a-Way Farms FLORIDA GATOR ($6.50) sit a perfect trip under Antonio Reyes in behind a contested pace (24.13, 47.25 and 1:12.35) and then run on to win nicely in 1:44.71 for trainer Barbara Heads. The Willow Creek Farms MOUNT ASGARD appreciated the class relief and finished a game second after enduring a wide trip from his outside post under Efrain Hernandez. The Ironside Stables SHARPZAN continues to improve and closed up on the rail to gain the third spot.
Race 8.
The last of the day was one that young apprentice jockey Fraser Aebly will never forget as he guided Lorie Henson, Helen Klimes and Sharon Pring's QUAGMIRE ($24.90) to a wire-to-wire victory in a swift 1:17.68. Trainer Steve Henson should get two victories as he has mentored rider Fraser Aebly throughout the year, giving him opportunities to gallop and learn the game and also trains the very game QUAGMIRE who never seems to run a bad race. It was fitting to see them together in the winners circle. BFA Holdings WISE MARKET was up close early then dropped back a bit on the backside and re-rallied in the stretch to nail down second money just in front of Derek Harris and Pat Marini's ADITYA who raced wide on the final turn and ended up in the third position at the finish.
Latest Standings
OWNERS:
Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds - 12
Rob and Sheena Maybin - 11
Willow Creek Farms - 9
TRAINERS:
Barbara Heads - 32
Edgar Mendoza - 31
Mark Cloutier - 21
JOCKEYS:
Amadeo Perez – 61
Antonio Reyes - 46
Efrain Hernandez - 30
Keeneland September Sale
Racing resumes at Hastings next Saturday, September 24th at 2:00 p.m.
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