Ring Knocker and Gratzie, a pair of hot Virginia-bred horses, continued their winning ways over Labor Day weekend.
Ring Knocker helped usher out the Saratoga meet on its closing day with a tight allowance optional claiming victory over Your Love by a neck. The 5 year old Birdstone mare was in for a $62,500 claiming price and covered the 6 1/2 furlong race in 1:17.29. Bred by the Morgan’s Ford Farm, Ring Knocker has yet to finish out of the money in nine starts this year. She has three wins, three seconds and three third place finishes good for earnings of $195,388. With the victory, her career bankroll went over the $400,000 mark. The consistent filly is out of the Black Tie Affair mare, Pearls, and is owned by the Bob Petersons Stables, LLC, Frank Bellavia and Gary Gullo. The ownership trio also received a 25% owners bonus for the win courtesy of the HBPA/VTA Mid-Atlantic bonus incentive program.
Ring Knocker, who won a year ago at Saratoga (shown here), came back to win a $90,000 race September 4th. Photo by Adam Coglianese.
Gratzie, a 6 year old Two Punch mare bred by Althea Richards, didn’t have to compete all that far distance-wise to win her third race in just four starts this year. She crossed the two furlong marker in :21.59 at Canterbury Park on Monday, then proceeded directly to the winner’s circle. The short distance claiming race had a $25,000 purse and attracted a modest field of four. Gratzie had another win at Canterbury and one at Oaklawn earlier this year. She is out of Dosh by Victory Gallop, and has earned $46,020 this year and $128,055 lifetime.
West End Gambler completed a Labor Day trifecta for Commonwealth-breds with a claiming triumph at Belterra Park. The 3 year old Spring At Last colt won handily by 7 1/4 lengths in a $10,400 six furlong sprint. Bred by the William Backer Revocable Trust, the victor was sent off as the 3-2 favorite in a field of eight. West End Gambler, who did not race a 2 year old, is out of the Empire Maker mare, Summertime Green. He now has two wins and a runner-up finish in four career starts.
Just before holiday weekend, Cash Cannon prevailed at Golden Gate Fields in her first career start — a $15,000 one mile maiden claiming race. The 2 year old daughter of Eskendereya was seventh early on but rallied in the second turn, circled four wide into the stretch and won by 1 3/4 lengths. She was bred by Audley Farm Equine, LLC and is out of the Yes It’s True mare, Midtown Miss.