Graduate Report 11/29/21 to 12/5/21
Tara Spach — IaHHA
Minnie Vinnie started with a great draw in race two at Yonkers Raceway on Monday (11/29). Getting the pocket trip from the rail, Minnie Vinnie (Dexter Dunn) sat on the rail as they raced around the track. Third at the top of the stretch, Minnie Vinnie paced his last quarter in 28.2 to hit the board for show, his race time in 1:54 flat.
Tuesday (11/30) at Saratoga Harness, race thirteen, Always B Hanny (Shawn T Gray) was driven hard from the four-hole to find herself parked first at the quarter. Finding the rail, Always B Hanny let Sudden Change N (Jim Devaux) take over the lead. As she sat on Devaux’s helmet, Always B Hanny was on the rail third as they turned for home. Fighting off the challengers, Always B Hanny held on to second, pacing in 1:58.3.
With a six-hole draw in race six at The Meadows, Nutter Butter (Dave Palone) pushed the gate out of her way to take the lead. Cutting the mile in 29.4, 1:00.2 and 1:30.0, Nutter Butter barely held a one-length lead around the last turn. In a hard fought battle down the lane, it was Nutter Butter in the photo by a head, trotting for the win in 1:59.4.
In race ten, Almost Karen (Aaron Merriman) got away second from the three-hole. With a perfect pocket trip, Almost Karen stalked the leader as they raced towards the finish line. Pacing her last quarter in 29.3, Almost Karen secured second place, her mile in 1:56.3.
At Harrah’s Philadelphia on Wednesday (12/1), Luke Hanners had the driving assignment on Marced Debutante in race seven. As the gate folded, Marced Debutante got away third from the two-hole. Sitting third the entire mile, Hanners waited until the stretch to ask for some pace. With a last quarter in 29.4, Marced Debutante captured the win by a head, winning time in 1:56.2.
In the Open Trot at Monticello, race seven, CR Blazin Beauty (Brandon Parker) trotted out to fifth from the five-hole. As they raced to the three-quarter-pole, CR Blazin Beauty found herself double parked, trying to gain on the field. Charging down the lane, CR Blazin Beauty stuck a neck in front, grabbing the win in 2:00.3.
SV Tymal’s Image (Bryce Brocklehurst) drew the four-hole in race five at The Meadows. Sitting second until the half, SV Tymal’s Image got pushed back to fourth as they reached the three-quarter-pole. With a last quarter in 30 flat, SV Tymal’s Image managed to hit the board for third, his race time in 2:01.0.
In race eight, First Gunner (Aaron Merriman) gunned out to second from the five-hole at the quarter. With a pocket trip, First Gunner trotted behind the leader. As horses crossed the finish line, First Gunner was placed second from third due to Tuff To Be Lindy (Brady Brown) impeding progress in the stretch.
Merriman chose another Iowa graduate in race twelve. Always Choose Chip was fourth from the three-hole as they passed the quarter. Merriman asked for some pace and Always Choose Chip sprang to the lead. Holding off all competitors, Always Choose Chip cruised across the wire, winning in 1:53.4.
Thursday (12/2) at The Meadows, Officerincommand (Dave Palone) drew the three and sat third the entire mile in race two. With a last quarter in 30.4, Officerincommand hit the board for show, trotting in 1:59.4.
In the opener on Friday at Cal Expo, May Day Maggie (Nick Roland) shot out for the lead from post-position seven. With fog interfering the race call, May Day Maggie was found to be racing in third when they reached the three-quarter-pole. As they raced the last turn, May Day Maggie poured on some speed. Beaten by less than a length, May Day Maggie scored second place, her mile in 1:56.4.
In the next race, Roland and Artspire competed from the six-hole. Iowa graduate Frisky Pedro (Luke Plano) also drew in race two, leaving from the five-hole. Not happy with sitting fifth at the quarter, Roland pulled Artspire to compete for the lead, while Frisky Pedro tracked in behind.. Double parked second at the three-quarter, Artspire still had pace. As the wire approached, Artspire crossed the line for the win in 1:54.3, with Frisky Pedro charging up for third.
My Money Honey (Kyle Cummings) raced from the seven-hole in race ten at Batavia Downs on Saturday (12/4). At the start, My Money Honey floated into seventh but pulled to gain ground on the field. Parked fourth as they reached the three-quarter, My Money Honey raced fourth into the stretch. With a last quarter in 28.4, My Money Honey picked up third, pacing in 1:57.1.
In race thirteen at Northfield Park, Almost Karen (Aaron Merriman) didn’t waste any time in the five-hole as the gate folded. Charging up to take the lead, Almost Karen was first by almost a length racing to the quarter-pole. Letting Sunshine Queen (Nick Clegg) take command, Almost Karen waited until the backstretch to try to retake the lead. On top as they turned for home, it was definitely Almost Karen crossing the line for the win in 1:56.3.
Back to Cal Expo on Sunday (12/5), Brooklyn Moonshine (Luke Plano) left from the three-hole to take command in the opener. As Life Isa Shortwalk (Nick Roland) took over, Brooklyn Moonshine stayed on the rail in second. As they turned for home, Brooklyn Moonshine paced her last quarter in 29.2 to hold on for third, race time in 1:56.3.
Marced Magic (James Kennedy) had the four-hole in race six. Leaving to get the pocket trip, Marced Magic kept his position as they raced around the track. In the stretch drive, Marced Magic crossed the line for place, his mile in 1:56.1, beaten out of it all in less than a length.
At Oak Grove, Shesureissomething (Christian Lind) drew the three-hole in the Filly and Mare Open. Fifth at the quarter, Shesureissomething waited until the lane to make a move. With a last-quarter in 28.3, Shesureissomething shot for the wire. In the photo finish, Shesureissomething was clearly the winner by a head. Returning to the winner’s circle for owners Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte, Shesureissomething’s mile was a blistering 1:53.2
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