Virginia-breds have been collecting wins all over the country in early March, from nearby Charles Town to distant venues like Sunland, Turf Paradise and Fonner Park. In all, seven Commonwealth-breds have connected at six different tracks.
The month started with a win by Hot and Dangerous at Turf Paradise. The 6 year old daughter of First Samurai led by a head throughout in a modest five horse field, then pulled away in deep stretch of her six furlong sprint. Bred by DSR Limited Liability Corporation, she earned her third career triumph and has now bankrolled $84,840.
Ring Knocker continued an impressive run at Aqueduct’s winter meet, gaining her sixth straight “in the money” finish with a one length win in a $67,000 allowance race March 3rd. The 5 year old daughter of Birdstone, bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm, came four wide midway through the turn of her six furlong test, then passed four frontrunners in deep stretch. Ring Knocker has a pair of wins, three runner-ups and a third during the meet. She is out of the Black Tie Affair mare, Pearls.
Ring Knocker’s win at Aqueduct March 3rd pushed her bankroll to $269,144. Photo courtesy of Adam Coglianese.
Magicians’ Truce has improved in each of her three outings this year, and after a third and second, there was only one place else to go. Breeder/owner Larry Johnson’s charge powered her way to a 1 1/2 length triumph over Up The Power March 4th at Charles Town in a maiden claiming race. The Suzanne Dempsey trainee was best of eight entrants and finished the seven furlong event in 1:30.14. The 5 year old gelding is by Street Magician out of Broken Treaty by Chief Seattle.
Magician’s Truce broke his maiden in a seven furlong race at Charles Town March 4th. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.
American Dubai was on the Derby trail early in 2016, then after finishing eighth in the Grade 3 Pat Day Stakes May 7th, was off the rest of the year. Fast forward to 2017 where the 4 year old E Dubai colt has found the groove at Sunland Park. He started the year with a second in an allowance test and has recorded back to back wins in allowance optional claiming company, each with a $31,400 purse. His most recent success came March 7th in track record time at the one mile distance—1:34.50. American Dubai was bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin.
American Dubai has won two straight this winter at Sunland Park. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.
This past weekend also saw wins by Moonlight Meeting (Los Alamitos), Nice Try (Charles Town) and Born Force (Fonner Park).
Since opting for the short 4 1/2 furlong distance at the Los Alamitos quarter horse session, Moonlight Meeting has a pair of wins and runner-ups in his six most recent starts. Bred by the Hart Farm, the 6 year old Malibu Moon gelding has bankrolled over $70,000.
Nice Try was winless in his first ten starts, but a recent change of scenery from Laurel, Maryland to West Virginia has changed his fortunes. He has two straight wins at Charles Town including a tight one by a neck March 10th in a $15,500 claiming race. The 4 year old Giant’s Causeway gelding was bred by the William Backer Revocable Estate.
Born Force competes in the Canterbury Park/Fonner Park circuit. After trailing a Fonner allowance race Saturday by seven at the top of the stretch, the 8 year old Political Force gelding came back to also score a tight neck triumph. That was his first start of 2017, which followed nine “top three” finishes in ten starts in ’16. Bred by Mr. & Mrs. C.W. McNeeley, Born Force has amassed $143,061 in earnings out west.