Three owners of Virginia-bred horses collected a 25% bonus in addition to their purse earnings this past weekend courtesy of a new HBPA/VTA bonus incentive program, which is still in its first month. Respective wins by Service for Ten, Lime House Louie and Money Tree gave owners Mark Lapidus, LLC, the Wildcard Stables and Stoneybrook Thoroughbreds Inc. the extra bonus.
Service for Ten captured a $45,000 allowance optional claiming race Sunday at Laurel with a last to first second half. The 7 year old Service Stripe gelding, bred by Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Cox, competed against six others at the six furlong distance. The upset winner was last at the quarter and half, swung to the five path entering the stretch, closed from the outside and after gaining the lead with 1/16th to go, crossed four lengths ahead of Struth in 1:10.65. Out of the Wild Zone mare, Tenacious Cheryl, Service for Ten paid $25.60. After going more than two years without a win, he has won two straight and now has bankrolled $416,645 in his career.
Service for Ten’s lifetime bankroll soared over the $400,000 mark thanks to an allowance win July 24th at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.
Lime House Louie got a win in his first lifetime start in a maiden special weight, 4 1/2 furlong race Saturday at Charles Town. The Limehouse colt, bred by Carlos S.E. Moore and Gillian Gordon-Moore, hustled early and pressed the pace in the field of nine. He got to the lead at the top of the stretch and won by 1 1/4 lengths over Runnin’toluvya in :53.71. The Flint Stites trainee was guided by jockey Katie Crews and is out of the Housebuster mare, Mystic Bay.
Money Tree, bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm, also competed in a field of nine like Lime House Louie, but had a trip more similar to Service for Ten’s. The 6 year old Lawyer Ron gelding was seventh early on in the $14,800, 5 1/2 furlong sprint, and was forced to use the six path entering the stretch. He moved methodically from that point and crossed in 1:04.30, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Next Right. Money Tree is out of So Generous by Fly So Free, and was making his 35th career start. He paid $24.00 to win and earned his first win of 2016 from seven starts.