Nine Virginia-bred horses scored victories in the second half of May including a trio of veterans who have combined to make 177 starts. Fur Lined, Galitzianer and War Colony reached the winners circle for the 13th, 12th and 10th times respectively in their careers.
11 year old Fur Lined got the best of six other horses at Mountaineer Park in a six furlong claiming race on Memorial Day. The Trust N Luck mare stalked the pace from second, took the lead at the top of the stretch and won by three-quarters of a length. Bred by William Backer and owned/trained by Amalia Cox, Fur Line boosted her career bankroll to $215,134 from 65 starts. She is out of the Storm Boot mare, Mittens.
8 year old Galitzianer returned north of the border to his Canadian comfort zone of Assiniboia Downs and got back to the winners circle last Friday. The Langfuhr gelding collected four wins in five starts there last year between June 10th and September 5th, but had been 0-for-3 competing at Turf Paradise since. The Linda Kropus trainee captured a 7 1/2 furlong waiver claiming event by three quarters of a length and earned the winners share of an $11,000 purse. Out of the Zafonic mare, Andalucian, the victor went to post for the 60th time.
9 year old War Colony, bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin III, earned his first win of the year May 17th in a $13,600 claiming sprint at Thistledown. The Not For Love gelding took the lead at the half and never looked back, crossing three lengths the best. The upset winner, out of Colonial Stage by Pleasant Colony, made his 52nd career start and has bankrolled $229,317.
Armoire connected at Pimlico on Preakness weekend. The 4 year old filly was best in a $55,000 allowance. Photo by Jim McCue.
Armoire, a 4 year old Artie Schiller filly, had a big allowance win at Pimlico on Black Eyed Susan Day. Bred and owned by Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone, the victor prevailed by one-half length over Arraign after heading into the stretch in sixth place. Out of the War Chant mare, Wardrobe, Armoire has three wins from six starts now, good for $78,680.
Another trio of Virginia-breds each recently collected their second wins of 2017. Shenandoahlove Rvf, Midnight Blue and Wild Affair all connected in mid-month at Penn National, Hazel Park and Charles Town respectively.
Shenandoahlove Rvf (inside) nipped Ell’s Acadia and Bess’ Girl at the wire May 18th at Penn National. Photo by B&D Photography.
Shenandoahlove Rvf captured a thriller over Ell’s Acadia and Bess’ Girl. The 3 year old Greeley’s Conquest filly was bumped following a slow break from the gate, but rebounded to win her second straight. She is out of Itaka’s Brianna by Itaka, was bred by Rose Ann Howell and is owned by Riverview Farms.
Midnight Blue also got his second straight win, a 1 1/2 triumph in a $10,000 claimer at Charles Town. Bred by Sam English II and owned/trained by Mike Butts, the 5 year old gelding was making his 28th career start. He is by Midnight Lute out of Imelda Blue by Regal Classic.
Wild Affair also scored at Charles Town in a similar condition but in a more dominating fashion. The 4 year old Up Periscope filly won by 7 1/2 lengths at a distance of 1 1/8 miles. Bred and owned by the Vermont Farm, the Michael Weeks trainee crossed in 1:42.92. She is out of the Black Tie Affair mare, Vermont Gilan.
Church Monkey and Fast Runner closed out late May activity with triumphs. The former scored at Hazel Park in a tight half length victory while the latter powered home to a $47,000 allowance race score at Parx on Memorial Day.
Church Monkey was bred by Thomas Leal and beat five others in a short four furlong race. The 4 year old Ecclesiastic gelding collected his 9th “in the money” finish from 15 starts. Fast Runner, a 5 year old Bandini horse, took advantage of a late surface change to beat a diminished field. Six horses scratched when the race was taken off the grass. Fast Runner, bred by the Walmac Farm, LLC and DSR Farm Inc., beat four others and crossed the best by 2 3/4 lengths. The Emmanuel Tzortakis trainee has bankrolled $130,440.
Fur Lined, Fast Runner, Wild Affair, Armoire, Midnight Blue and Shenandoahlove Rvf each earned an additional 25% for their owners courtesy of the VTA/HBPA Mid-Atlantic Bonus program. Any Virginia-bred or sired horse that wins an overnite race in the Mid-Atlantic receives the bonus.