A 4-pack of veteran Virginia-bred horses, each making their 50th-plus lifetime start this past week, all got to the winners circle over a four day period. Pauper’s Queen and What a Wildcat, both Gerald Brooks trainees, scored at Presque Isle Downs; Gator Gone Wild won at Penn National and Galitzianer connected at Manitoba’s Assiniboia Downs.
Although Pauper’s Queen finished second to Wisenbossy in a June 7th claiming race for fillies and mares, the 8 year old daughter of Royal Academy got bumped up after the winner was disqualified for causing interference. Bred by the Atkins Homes, Inc., Pauper’s Queen earned her 9th career win in her 57th start and now has a bankroll of $165,100. She was sent off as the 1-2 betting choice in the modest four horse field and finished the 1 1/16th miles race in 1:47.30. She is out of the Robellino mare, Regallino, and is nominated to the Nellie Mae Cox stakes at Pimlico June 25th.
What a Wildcat captured a thriller with a well timed late move in a 6 1/2 furlong claiming event on June 8th. The 9 year old Wildcat Heir gelding dueled in a ten horse field and was buried in the early going. He was 9th at the quarter and 8th at the half before a rally at the head of the stretch. What a Wildcat split horses in his final strides and won by a nose over Rockinmebaby and Mr. Algebra. Puttinonashow was fourth, barely a head behind the others. Bred and owned by Larry Johnson, the victor gained his 8th victory in his 52nd career outing and now has earned $113,509 in purse monies. Out of the Parfaitement mare, Not What I Do, What a Wildcat has been nominated to the June 25th White Oak Farm Stakes.
Gator Gone Wild, a 7 year old daughter of Gators N Bears, squeaked out a tight win over Marionette Miss June 10th for her 9th career win and 30th “in the money” finish. Bred by Sam English II, the winner took the lead halfway through the six furlong filly/mare claimer, opened up by 1 1/2 lengths at the top of the stretch, then held on by a neck in 1:11.99. Gator Gone Wild is trained by Flint Stites and is out of the Jimmy Barney mare, Double Digit.
Finally up north, Galitzianer made his 52nd career start and crept to within $3,000 of a six digit bankroll by winning a 7 1/2 furlong waiver claiming race. The 7 year old son of Langfuhr, guided by jockey Christopher Husbands, wore down the lone speed horse in the six horse field just in time to gain a late lead and pull away to win by two in 1:34.40. Out of the Zafonic mare, Andalucian, Galitzianer has $97,069 in earnings from 8 wins and 22 “top three” finishes.
Favorite Niece, bred by Falls Church Racing Stables, earned her first career win in dominating fashion at Pimlico June 10th. Photo by Jim McCue.
Five other Virginia-breds scored wins last week including Favorite Niece, bred by the Falls Church Racing Stables. The 3 year old daughter of Street Magician was heavily favored in a 1 1/16th miles filly/mare claimer for $18,000, and she lived up to her billing. She came from second at Pimlico’s six furlong marker and dominated from that point en route to a 8 1/4 length win in 1:49.73. Out of the Quiet American mare, Sit Chilly, Favorite Niece got her first win in six starts this year. She did not race as a two year old.
Drop Dead Red is another sophomore that earned her first victory last week. Bred by Mr. & Mrs. Oliver Iselin, the chestnut filly was best in a seven horse field of maiden claimers at Churchill Downs. With Joe Rocco Jr. in the irons, Drop Dead Red got away inside in the $27,000 one mile race, shifted out in the far turn, took over at the top of the stretch and held off Angel of Troy to win by a length. The victor is by Hold Me Back out of Stylish Affair by Not For Love.
Three year old filly Lemoniscious won her racing debut June 7th at Indiana Downs in a $32,000 maiden special weight event. Courtesy of a four wide move in the turn, the daughter of Bellamy Road caught the leader shortly after and won by two lengths. She completed the six furlongs in 1:11.78 and paid $7.20 her backers. Bred by the Lazy Lane Farms, Lemoniscious is out of Lemon Crusta by Lemon Drop Kid.
Desert Jewel is another three year old filly, but she collected her second career win and 7th “in the money” effort in a six furlong claimer at Penn National on Wednesday. Bred by the Morgan’s Ford Farm, the daughter of Include came on strong in the second half after languishing initially. Last at the half, she rebounded to fourth at the top of the stretch, passed front running I’ve Got It Made late in the stretch and won by a length in 1:12.33. She is out of the Kafwain mare, Desert Quail and has bankrolled $40,740 from six outings this year alone.
Compose was the final Virginia-bred to score a win last week, making a victory lane appearance Sunday at Lone Star Park in another filly/mare claimer. The 5 year old Stephen Got Even mare won a 5 1/2 furlong sprint by a length in 1:05.40. She challenged the pace from the start, vied in the three path in the turn and shook free from her challengers in deep stretch. Bred by Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone, Compose continues to roll nicely in 2016 at Lone Star and Will Rogers Downs with three wins, a runner-up and third from five starts. She is out of the Broad Brush mare, Conduct.