Andy Picked Me’s gate-to-wire triumph in maiden special weight company at Monmouth Park September 5th led a charge of six wins by Virginia-bred horses on Labor Day week.
The 3 year old Sky Mesa gelding collected the winners share of a $36,000 purse and covered the six furlong dirt race in 1:10.60. Bred by the Lazy Lane Farms, rider Joe Bravo guided Andy Picked Me to a 1 1/4 length victory for trainer Benjamin Perkins and owners, the Briardale Stables. He is out of the Two Punch mare, Night Breeze.
September 1st saw a trio of Virginia-bred scores, led by Once More For Love’s $17,000 allowance victory in wire-to-wire fashion at Finger Lakes. Bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin III, the three year old filly finished six furlongs for fillies/mares (three years old and up) in 1:11.24. Jockey Oscar Gomez directed the impressive win for the Cannon Farms. She is by Not For Love out of the Buckfinder mare, Classic Contender.
The same day, Pauper’s Queen swung five wide in the stretch after trailing to that point, then finished off an upset win in a starter event for fillies and mares at Presque Isle Downs. Bred by Gerald Brooks and sired by Royal Academy, Pauper’s Queen returned $27.40 to bettors in the 1 mile, 70 yard race. Out of the Robellino mare, Regallino, the victor earned the winner’s share of a $19,000 purse.
Star of Magic completed the September 1st hat trick by connecting in a 5 1/2 furlong claiming race at Delaware Park. The 6-year-old Medalist gelding, bred by the Braeburn Farm Corporation, scored a 2 3/4 length win in gate-to-wire fashion in 1:03.49. Star of Magic, out of the Thunder Rumble mare, Rumbling Girl, is owned by the D B G Stable.
Pauper’s Queen kicks off Labor Day week, 20-15, with a three length win at Presque Isle Downs
Larry Johnson’s What a Wildcat and Rodger Smith’s Recrank both had holiday weekend wins at Presque Isle and Columbus Park in Nebraska respectively. The former was second from last in an eight horse field at the half before rallying in the turn and winning by 1 3/4 lengths while the latter rallied three wide in the far turn, cleared the field easily and held on for a one length triumph. What a Wildcat is by Wildcat Heir out of Not What I Do by Parfaitement while Recrank is by Repent out of Crankenpuss by Honour and Glory.
What a Wildcat, bred by Larry Johnson, came from 2nd last to win by 1 3/4 lengths on Labor Day at Presque Isle Downs.