Two of the three Virginia-bred stakes winners from the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Day racing event at Pimlico June 25th returned to action this past weekend and got a first and second place finish. Queen Caroline, who captured the $60,000 Nellie Mae Cox Stakes that day, won the $100,000 TaWee Stakes at Indiana Grand July 20th while 9-year-old Two Notch Road, winner of the $60,000 White Oak Farm Stakes a month ago, finished second in a $47,000 allowance optional claimer July 24 at Laurel.
Queen Caroline, bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm, won the $100,000 TaWee Stakes July 20. Photo courtesy of Indiana Grand.
Queen Caroline, bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm, raced inside early from mid pack but stayed within three lengths of the leader through the quarter and half markers and of the one mile stakes. She took the lead for good at the top of the stretch and won by three-quarters of a length in 1:37.76. Queen Caroline is a 3 year old daughter of Blame out of Queens Plaza by Forestry. She now has three wins and a pair of seconds from five starts this year, good for $136,684 in purse earnings. The TaWee winner is owned by Virginian Amy Moore, trained by Michael Matz and was ridden by Alex Cintron.
Two Notch Road wins his second straight Virginia-bred stakes race at Pimlico June 25. Photo by Jim McCue.
Two Notch Road’s runner-up effort at Laurel pushed his lifetime bankroll to the $405,403 level. The Glenn Thompson trainee was making his 31st career start and collected his 13th “in the money” finish. Bred by James Hackman, he is by Partner’s Hero out of Capiana by Capote.
Rose Brier, winner of the third Virginia-bred stakes at that June 25th Pimlico event — the $60,000 Edward Evans Stakes — has not started since.
A Virginia owned horse also reached the winner’s circle July 20th in the $60,000 Lamplighter Stakes at Monmouth. Franklin Towers, owned and bred by Clarke Ohrstrom, went gate to wire and beat 4-5 betting choice Noble Quality by a neck in the 1 1/16th miles event. Jockey Nik Juarez guided the upset effort atop the 3 year old son of City Zip, who paid $42.20 to his backers. Bred in Kentucky, Franklin Towers is out of the Engrillado mare, Leioa. He captured a maiden special weight race at Monmouth June 10th and has earned nearly $70,000 in 2016. Ohrstrom, who owns a 1,700 acre farm in Fauquier County, earned his 29th career victory as an owner.
Long On Value won the $100,000 Lucky Coin Stakes at Saratoga July 25. Photo by Coglianese Photography.
To top off a successful weekend stretch, Virginia-bred Long On Value connected in the $100,000 Lucky Coin Stakes Monday (July 25) at Saratoga. The 5 year old son of Orientate was bred by the Snow Lantern Thoroughbreds and is trained by Bill Mott. Read more about the big win in a separate piece on vabred.org and virginiahorseracing.com.