Tetrick On His Saturday Red Mile Mounts

Published: October 4, 2012 12:30 pm EDT

Harness racing’s top money-winning driver, Tim Tetrick, will be steering some of the sport’s top horses Saturday, as the Grand Circuit meet continues at Lexington’s Red Mile.

The card will be headlined by the $510,300 Tattersalls Pace for three-year-old male pacers, two $111,000 divisions of the Glen Garnsey Memorial for three-year-old pacing fillies, and four $86,000-plus divisions of the International Stallion Stakes for two-year-old male pacers.

Tetrick, who has accumulated $14.22 million in purses this year, will be sitting behind three of harness racing’s top-rated stars on Saturday: two-year-old pacing colt Captaintreacherous, three-year-old pacing filly American Jewel, and three-year-old trotting colt Market Share. Tetrick is on his way to leading all drivers in purses for the sixth consecutive season, as well as surpassing $15 million for the sixth consecutive campaign. Brian Sears is the only other driver in history to top $15 million in a year, having done it in 2005 and 2008.

Captaintreacherous has won six of seven races this year and earned $790,478 for owners Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Joe Sbrocco and White Birch Farm. Tony Alagna trains the well-bred son of Somebeachsomewhere--Worldly Treasure.

Last week, Captaintreacherous won his division of the Bluegrass Stakes by one and a half lengths over Good Day Mate in 1:51.3. Captaintreacherous, who earlier this year won the Metro Pace and Woodrow Wilson, raced on the outside for much of the mile.

“That was maybe one of his best performances all year,” Tetrick said. “He sat outside and took his time and when I called on him at the top of the lane he raced like a real professional. The trip didn’t work out perfect, but he overcame it. He’s just a plain, flat-good horse. He overcomes bad trips, bad drives, and still makes you look great.”

Captaintreacherous will start Saturday’s International Stallion Stakes division from Post 1. The field also includes Good Day Mate, who will leave from Post 2.

American Jewel has won six of 12 races and $806,499 this year for trainer Jimmy Takter and owner Brittany Farms. She has won 14 of 21 career starts and earned $1.48 million. She will compete in the second of the two Garnsey divisions, while stablemate Romantic Moment headlines the first split.

Last week, American Jewel won her Bluegrass Stakes division by three and a quarter lengths over Destiny’s Chance in 1:50.1. She will start her Garnsey division from Post 1 in a seven-horse field that includes Jugette winner Darena Hanover and two-year-old divisional champion Economy Terror.

“She raced good last week,” Tetrick said. “I was happy with her. She showed good speed around the last turn, so I was happy with that. Hopefully we get a good spot and don’t have to use her too much and get the job done so we can go to the Breeders Crown off two wins and be the horse to beat for the Breeders Crown.”

Market Share will not compete in a stakes race Saturday, but will use a late closer for three-year-old male trotters as a prep for the Breeders Crown at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. Eliminations, if necessary, for the Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Colt Trot are scheduled for Oct. 20 and the $500,000 final is Oct. 27.

Saturday’s start will be Market Share’s first since winning the $1-million Canadian Trotting Classic on Sept. 15 at Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario. Market Share has won seven of 15 races this year and $1.76 million. He has 12 career victories in 20 starts, with earnings of $1.79 million. He is trained by Linda Toscano and owned by Richard Gutnick, TLP Stable and William Augustine.

“I think he’s going to be fine,” Tetrick said. “He’s had a great year. He’s really fresh; I watched him train (Wednesday) morning and he looked awesome. He’s just a good horse.”

Market Share, who is not eligible to Sunday’s Kentucky Futurity at the Red Mile, has won four of his last seven races and finished no worse than second in the other three. His wins include the $1.5 million Hambletonian and the $350,000 Zweig Memorial.

“He’s not had really any hard trips,” Tetrick said. “That always makes a difference. I’m super impressed with the little guy. He just keeps getting the job done. Everybody says he’s super lucky, but I guess it’s better to be lucky than good.”

Tetrick’s busy afternoon at the Red Mile also will include driving Mel Mara in the Tattersalls. Mel Mara, who drew Post 10 in the 12-horse field, is coming off a two and a quarter-length win over Sweet Lou in 1:49.4 in their division of the Bluegrass Stakes. He is owned by Brittany Farms, John Carver and Riverview Farms. He has won three of 14 races this year and earned $209,751. He was supplemented to the Tattersalls at a cost of $60,000.

“He was very, very good (last week),” Tetrick said. “He’s got a lot of speed. He went right at them.”

The Tattersalls also includes Adios winner Bolt The Duer, Meadowlands Pace champ A Rocknroll Dance, North America Cup winner Thinking Out Loud and two-year-old divisional champion Sweet Lou.


This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.

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