The 8-year-old Malibu Moon gelding won most recently March 6 in his 50th career start, when he was a neck better than Jamminwithbrandon in a one-mile starter optional claimer. Divine Interventio had different connections though than he had in his start the week prior. On February 27, he also conquered a dirt miler, going three-wide in the turn and finishing 2 3/4 lengths the best, but was claimed out that race by Gene Gould for $12,500. John Robb took over training duties from Hugh McMahon as a result.
Divine Interventio wins the first of two straight at Laurel on Feb. 27. Photo by Jim McCue.
Bred by the William Backer Revocable Estate, Divine Interventio has 11 wins, 12 runner-up finishes and 10 thirds with earnings of $406,924. He is out of the Out of Place mare, Art Show.
This win, March 6, pushed Divine Interventio’s bankroll over the $400,000 mark. Photo by Jim McCue.
Other Virginia-breds have reached the winners circle in the past several weeks. Distant Thunder had a maiden claiming score March 5 at Laurel at the six-furlong distance. The 5-year-old Wilburg gelding won by a length in gate-to-wire style and crossed in 1:11.91. He is bred/owned by Sam English II and is out of Scotish Tune by Bellamy Road.
Distant Thunder completes a gate-to-wire effort at Laurel March 5. Photo by Jim McCue.
Cool Enough, who earned a maiden claiming triumph this past summer at Colonial, reached the winners circle at Charles Town for his second career score. The 3-year-old Tamarkuz filly prevailed in a seven-furlong claiming race and pushed her bankroll to $29,336 from nine starts. She was bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm and is out of the Macho Uno mare, Make Waves.
Well-traveled Mucho Mas, by Mucho Macho Man, came home strong and beat ten others in a Sam Houston claimer after crossing the half in eighth. Bred by Jim & Katie Fitzgerald, the 5-year-old mare has also competed at Churchill, Keeneland, Lone Star, Louisiana Downs, Remington and Oaklawn, where she recorded a maiden special weight victory. Through 20 career outs, Mucho Mas has earned $114,544.
Tiz Auction Time holds off Whats The Chance in a 5 1/2 furlong claimer at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.
Owner/breeder Michael Anderson’s Tiz Auction Time was best in an 11-horse claiming sprint at Laurel, his second win in three starts this year for trainer Ham Smith. The 4-year-old son of Tizdejavu beat Whats The Chance by three-quarters of a length. Tiz Auction Time is out of My Magnolia by Mineshaft.
Attachment Rate gallops at Churchill Downs in advance of the 2020 Kentucky Derby. Photo by Coady Photography.
Attachment Rate, who competed in the 2020 Kentucky Derby, had a nice showing at Gulfstream Park, connecting in a $65,000 one-mile turf allowance. The 4-year-old Hard Spun colt was seven lengths behind at the third fraction but rallied late to win by one and record his best career speed rating. The winner was bred by Mr. & Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin III and is trained by Dale Romans. Out of the Afleet Alex mare, Aristra, Attachment Rate has $212,422 in earnings.