Another five Virginia-bred horses won a race in the Mid-Atlantic region this past week and in doing so, collected an additional 25% owners bonus on top of their purse winnings courtesy of the new HBP/VTA incentive program which began July 1st.
Grace Is Ready, Mr. Magician, Frankin Storm, Titan Alexander and Runninginthevale all earned bonuses while another trio — Compose, Front Nine, and Cherokee Salute — captured races in other parts of the country.
Grace Is Ready (#2 on outside) passed Blavatski (#5 inside) in deep stretch en route a second place finish behind Grogger (whose tail can be seen) in a $29,500 allowance race Friday at Penn National. After further review though, the winner was disqualified for causing interference and as a result, Grace Is Ready got moved up to the win position.
A disqualification of the winner enabled Grace Is Ready to move up to the win position August 19th at Penn National. Photo by B&D Photography.
She is a 3 year old More Than Ready filly who was bred by Quest Realty Trust and is trained by Susan Cooney. In 2016 so far, the winner has earned $42,120 from seven starts. Quest Realty also owns the winner, and will receive that 25% bonus. Photo courtesy of B & D Photography.
Mr. Magician, bred and owned by Larry Johnson, was best in a field of 12 sprinters Friday at Laurel and earned his second career win.
The 4 year old son of Street Magician raced 8th at the 3/8ths mark, was nicely rated along the rail through the turn, then surged between horses in the stretch to win by two over Magnum Opus. The Mike Trombetta trainee finished the $22,000, 5 1/2 furlong waiver claiming race in 1:05.15. Out of the Mr. Greeley mare, Kelly’s Question, Mr. Magician upped his lifetime bankroll to $62,100. Photo courtesy of Jim McCue.
Frankin Storm wired the field in his bonus winning effort Friday at Charles Town. The 3 year old son of Fierce Wind won by 8 3/4 lengths and was anything but the favorite in the eight horse field. He paid $38.60 to win and covered the 1 1/8 miles claimer in 1:55.53. Out of the Storm Boot mare, Stormy Heroine, the Fred Chinn trainee earned his third lifetime score. He is owned by Diana Chinn and was bred by Susan Minor.
Mr. Magician, owned and bred by Larry Johnson, was best in a $22,000 waiver claiming race at Laurel August 19th. Photo by Jim McCue.
Titan Alexander won by an even larger margin that Frankin Storm, but he had less competition to face. A modest three horse field went to post in the six furlong allowance optional claimer Sunday at Mountaineer. Bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin, the 6 year old Not For Love gelding was last at the quarter, then rolled from that point en route to a 1:11.71 crossing. The ownership group of Catalyst Stables, G2 Associates LLC and Feebs Racing got a bonus on top of the winners’ share of an $18,000 purse.
Runninginthevale beat eight others in a $26,000 starter optional claimer Wednesday at Delaware Park. The Gary Capuano trainee, overlooked at 11-1, has won 3 of 5 since Memorial Day and has earned $53,591 this year alone. The victor was bred and is owned by Mary Slade and was guided up top by Julian Pimentel. The 4 year old gelding is by Fear The Cape out of Polly’s Persuasion by Makin.
Compose contiuned to roll out in the Midwest, reaching the winner’s circle for the 4th time in 6 starts this year. Bred by Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone, the 5 year old daughter of Stephen Got Even raced in second through the turn of the $12,500, 5 1/2 furlong claiming race, got the lead at the head of the stretch and crossed in front by 1 3/4 lengths. Out of the Broad Brush mare, Conduct, Compose now has 13 “in the money” finishes in 18 lifetime starts.
Front Nine went north of the border to secure his first lifetime win in a $25,400 maiden claiming event at Woodbine. The 3 year old gelding did go gate to wire, but hung on to win by a neck over Conquest Too Smart in the seven furlong test. The winner was bred by Albert Coppola and the Stormy Atlantic Syndicate, and was claimed for $25,000 by the Alpine Stable. Front Nine is by Stormy Atlantic out of York Woods by Mining.
On Wednesday, Cherokee Salute won for the second time in three starts at Louisiana Downs since leaving Oaklawn Park. The 5 year old daughter of Cherokee’s Boy was bred by Melissa Cantacuzene and is trained by Ralph Irwin. The mare dueled inside early in a $22,500, 7 furlong allowance race, remain engaged through the turn and shook loose at the 1/8th pole, completing a gate to wire effort. She has earned $31,425 from five starts this year.