Here’s a recap of recent Virginia-bred wins since the big Commonwealth Stakes Day at Laurel September 24th and of course, Stellar Wind’s victory over Beholder in the Grade I Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita.
Mike Trombetta trainee, Up Hill Battle, was victorious September 29th in a $17,100 claiming race at Penn National. photo by B&D Photography.
A pair of 3 year olds, neither of whom raced as freshmen, finished out September by winning sprint races in the Mid-Atlantic region. Here and There, a Langfuhr gelding, went gate to wire in a $29,000 maiden claimer at Belmont while Up Hill Battle, a Street Magician filly, came from behind to win a $17,000 filly/mare claimer for the Mike Trombetta stable.
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True Cost, bred by Anne Tucker, won a tight half length triumph over Deliver Me at Penn National in a $32,850 claiming event. Photo by B&D Photography.
Here and There, out of Dehere by Stay Here, was bred by Quest Realty and earned his first lifetime victory in a bit of an upset — he paid $18.60 to win. Up Hill Battle was bred by the Johnson Brothers Stable and is out of the Saint Ballado mare, Pennyhill. She pushed her earnings to $45,225.
Virginia-bred True Cost got to the winner’s circle the prior week at Penn National and gave owner John Tucker the winner’s share of a $32,850 purse. Bred by Anne Tucker, the 6 year old daughter of Aisle won by a half length over Deliver Me in the six furlong test. She has earned $36,935 this year alone and has finished first or second in 7 of her last 8 starts at Penn National.
Start Winning captured her first lifetime win in convincing fashion with a score at Charles Town. Photo by Coady Photography.
Start Winning, a 3 year old Jump Start filly who did not start as a 2 year old, got to the winner’s circle for the first time the same week at Charles Town. Bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin, the appropriately named Start Winning beat eight other maidens handily — by 7 1/2 lengths — in the 7 furlong event in 1:29.65. Owner C and B Stables captured the winner’s share of a $10,000 purse. Start Winning is out of the Runaway Groom mare, Ritual Dance.
All horses noted above that won their race in the Mid-Atlantic region, will collect a 25% owners bonus on top of their purse earnings as part of the VTA/HBPA owners bonus initiative that began July 1st.