Virginia-bred horses Going Rate, Schliffy, Trappe Me Later and Preachin’ George all earned their first lifetime wins last week at tracks around the country. The first pair collected their victories at Churchill while the latter two scored at Gulfstream and Laurel respectively.
Going Rate finished nicely in his $60,000, maiden special weight race to capture a 2 1/2 length triumph. The 3 year old Exchange Rate colt was sixth at the three-quarters mark of his 1 1/18th miles test, but he went wide and cleared the field in the final stages. Bred by the William Backer Revocable Trust, Going Rate rebounded from a tenth place finish in his last start at Keeneland October 8th. The Ken McPeek trainee, who did not race as a 2 year old, is out of Dinah Lee by Dynaformer.
Schliffy had an easier time of it in his $19,000 maiden claimer at Churchill. The 2 year old Tapizar colt dominated and won by 9 1/4 lengths but was claimed out of the race for $15,000 by David Carr. The winner had been owned by the Zayat Stables and was trained by D. Wayne Lukas. Schliffy, bred by the Morgan’s Ford Farm, was making his third career start. The winner is out of the Tiznow mare, Thor’s Daughter.
Trappe Me Later was best by a neck in her five furlong maiden claiming sprint. Bred by Richard Sanders, the Trappe Shot filly maintained second place through most of the race and caught the frontrunner with a late surge despite getting bumped in deep stretch. She crossed in :58.52 and paid $20.40. Trappe Me Later finished second in her career debut October 15th at Gulfstream.
Preachin’ George won his first lifetime start November 3rd at Laurel. Photo courtesy of Jim McCue.
Preachin’ George beat eight other maiden sprinters November 3rd at Laurel in her first lifetime start. The 3 year old Ecclesiastic gelding, bred by Thomas Teal, won her 5 1/2 furlong event by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:05.80. The Tim Keefe trainee competed at a $40,000 claiming tag and was ridden by Steve Hamilton. He is out of Mumtaj by Tralos.
On other Virginia-bred action, Compose won her fifth straight race, connecting in a $23,650 fillies/mares claiming event November 1st at Remington. The streaking 6 year old Stephen Got Even mare beat her own mark of success last year when she won four straight. In this six furlong race, she went gate to wire and won by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:10.08. Compose is 5 of 7 this year and has bankrolled $46,046. In her career, the consistent mare has 13 wins and 22 “top three” finishes in 28 starts, good for $142,231 in earnings.
Ned Evans-bred Code West is shown winning his second career stakes race in 2014 at Remington. The Veterans Stakes win was his fifth. Photo Courtesy Dustin Orona Photography.
Code West continued to roll last week, going gate to wire in the $50,000 Veterans Stakes at Zia Park. The 7 year old ridgling upped his 2017 bankroll to $112,200 from six starts. His career earnings are now at $791,227 from 35 starts. Bred by Edward Evans, Code West is by Lemon Drop Kid out of Charitabledonation by Saint Ballado.
Scarlett’s Ransom, Unpredictable and Just Funnin’ Ya captured claiming races at Laurel, Parx and Mountaineer last week. In doing so, they provided a 25% bonus to their respective owners courtesy of the HBPA/VTA Mid-Atlantic incentive program. Eric Rizer, the Ho Dee Boy Stable, and J D P Racing all will receive that bonus.
At first blush, Scarlett’s Ransom finished a close second to Next Street in her 5 1/2 furlong sprint. After a review however, the original winner was disqualified for causing interference, so Rizer’s 3 year old filly moved up a position and got credited with the win. It was her third victory in twelve starts this year and fourth overall. Scarlett’s Ransom, by Denis of Cork out of Moosette by Grand Slam, was co-bred by Eric Rizer and Nancy Rizer.
Unpredictable closed well in the final stages of his Halloween Day win at Parx and crossed one half length in front of Refunded. The 3 year old Bluegrass Cat gelding beat seven others in the $22,000, 5 1/2 furlong race. Bred by Audley Farm Equine, LLC, Unpredictable is out of the Cape Town mare, Ruler’s Charm, and is 2-for-6 this year. He did not race as a two year old.
After 39 career starts outside of West Virginia, Just Funnin’ Ya made number 40 — her first ever at Mountaineer Park —pay off. The 6 year old City Zip mare beat Barbed Wire by nearly a length and captured her first win of the year and sixth overall. She completed 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:07.41. Just Funnin’ Ya was bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin and is out of the Distorted Humor mare, Humorlee.
River Deep took an 8 1/2 lead into the top of the stretch in the November 3rd Virginia-Bred allowance race at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.
River Deep was the 10th winner of the week. The 3 year old Arch colt was 5 1/4 lengths the best in a $30,000 Virginia-bred allowance race at Laurel. That race has a separate writeup and can be seen at vabred.org