Weekly Update
Weekly Stable Update
Peter Petrify:
Pete was unable to get too involved this week from the 7 post and finished 7th. Despite finishing off the board, he was still right there with the rest of the field in a tight finish in a race that went a very fast 1:53 for the class. He is back in this Saturday night at Saratoga Harness, where he drops down for some class relief and draws the 5 post with Justin Huckabone back in the bike.
Beef N Cheddar:
Beef put in a very game effort from the 3 post this week. His early speed was on display as he fired right to the lead and controlled the pace for the majority of the race. Turning for home, he was eventually passed by the 2/5 favorite, who proved to be a bit much, but Beef battled on gamely and was clearly the best of the rest, finishing a strong second. He is back in the same class this week and draws the rail where we expect him to be a major threat.
Manhattan Artist:
Manhattan Artist struggled to make much of an impact this week from the 8 post and finished 6th, marking his first start without earning a check for the stable. He is back in this Saturday night and draws the 2 post, where we expect him to be much more of a factor this time around.
Beat Bobby Bayou:
Bobby got a bit of a rough trip attempting to leave from the 6 post at Tioga Downs this past week but was able to find a seat around mid-pack. He made an outside move and, although he wasn’t able to hit the board, he still picked up a 5th-place check with a solid effort. Trainer Rob Harmon praised Bobby’s race afterward, saying he raced very well, which we were pleased to hear. Bobby was unfortunately scratched from his race this week due to an unfortunate racing office error. He will get the week off and we expect he will be back in next week.
Cruzin America:
Cruzin put in a fantastic effort at Pocono Downs this week. He fired off the gate from the 4 post and quickly made the lead. He was eventually overtaken by the heavy 2/5 favorite from the 8 post, who was coming off a significant class drop, but Cruzin never stopped battling. He surged up the passing lane and even appeared to get his head in front before the favorite fought back just enough at the wire to hold us off in a heartbreaking second-place finish. It was a huge effort in a very fast 1:51 flat. Cruzin is right back in this Saturday at Pocono from the 6 post.
Phantom Tom:
Tom got a bit of a rough trip this week despite drawing the 2 post. He got away third in the early going before ultimately being forced into a first-over trip. He showed some trot on the outside but wasn’t really able to make up much ground on the leader. Despite the tough journey, Tom battled on all the way to the wire and finished a solid 4th, just barely missing third. Overall, it was another honest effort from him. We expect he’ll be right back in the same class next week, and hopefully he’ll work out a better trip this time around.
Dance Machine:
Dance Machine put in another solid effort this week, picking up a 4th-place check while continuing to show he can compete with some of the top horses at Buffalo Raceway. Since claiming him and moving him up in class, he has continued to earn checks and put together strong efforts against the tougher competition. He is back in on Friday at Buffalo Raceway from the 6 post.
Wonka Bar:
Wonka Bar has been very sharp and is definitely showing improvement lately. He has finished in the top 3 in 5 of his 10 starts this year. Unfortunately, he did not get in to race this week at Saratoga due to the Fourth of July schedule, but he is entered to race at the New York County Fair in Plattsburgh this Sunday. He draws the 3 post in a 5 horse field and we look forward to seeing how he does up there.
Yamaka:
Despite drawing into a bit of a salty field and the race not quite setting up his way, Yamaka battled on to pick up another 5th-place check this week. He continues to be one of the stable’s toughest soldiers and has been a very consistent earner out in Maine this summer. He is back in this Saturday at Cumberland, where he drops into a bit softer spot and draws the 2 post. We expect another very strong effort from him.
RobinTheCradle:
Robin put in another very strong effort this week at Northfield Park, finishing a close third. It appeared he got locked in a bit, and if he had found racing room, we believe he would have had a great chance to win the race. But he still raced very well once again against a tough group of pacers and picked up another solid third-place check for the stable. We now await the entries for his next start.
DiscoveringTheHunt:
Hunt turned in a very impressive effort in just her second start for the stable, finishing a strong second in a speedy 1:54.1 at Yonkers Raceway. She was the lone mare competing in a $15,000 race against some tough competition but rose to the occasion extremely well. Driver Brent Holland had her closing strongly late, and she rallied nicely to finish second. We were very pleased with her performance and look forward to seeing what she can do in her next start.
Besta Blue Chip:
Our Chapter Seven yearling, Besta Blue Chip, made the first start of his young career this week. Despite making an unfortunate break, Besta looked very promising beforehand. Driver Brett Beckwith got the colt away well from the 8 post, settling third in the early stages. He appeared to have plenty of trot, and had it not been for the break, who knows what kind of race he may have put together. Besta is back in this Friday for a $55,000 stakes race at Vernon Downs, where he draws the rail. We look forward to seeing how he performs in his second career start with the inside post and the bigger track, and we’re optimistic for an improved effort.
Top Notch Treasure:
Our other yearling, Top Notch Treasure, will make his first career start for the stable this Friday at Cumberland Raceway. He draws the rail in a $14,000 Maine Sire Stakes race and will compete in a six-horse field. We are very excited to see Top Notch kick off his career.
This is shaping up to be one of, if not the busiest weeks the stable has had to date, and we’re very excited to see how it all plays out. Stay tuned for next week’s rundown!
