Team Schillaci continued their dominance of the Open ranks this weekend as Camouflage Money made a big four-wide bid around the final turn to win the $20,000 co-featured Open Pace at MGM Northfield Park on Sunday night (June 18).
Driver Chris Lems wasn’t in any hurry to put Camouflage Money into play, electing to sit off the pace and watch the duelling leaders into the first turn. Speedy Dominic A (Aaron Merriman), Almanac (Austin Hanners) and Dragon City (Chris Page) were all put into play early with a three-wide tussle into the initial turn. Speedy Dominic A cleared rivals into the backstretch, but Almanac couldn’t hang and broke after the first eighth of a mile.
While Dragon City was forced to go around a breaking Almanac up the backstretch, Dragon City hustled to try to take over the top spot past the opening quarter in :26.4. Still, Merriman was having none of it as Dragon City was forced to settle into the pocket past the stands for the first time.
There wasn’t much movement through the second quarter. However, Merriman still posted strong fractions with Speedy Dominic A as he arrived at the half in a testy :54.3. Warhorse Southwind Amazon (Ryan Stahl) began a long first-over bid into the backstretch for the final time. He worked to within three-quarters of a length of the leader with Bettor Than Spring (Billy Davis Jr.) right on his back.
Southwind Amazon began to tire past three-quarters in 1:23, with Speedy Dominic A kicking clear from the veteran. Into the final turn, Bettor Than Spring was tipped three-deep with Lems getting Camouflage Money revved up from the back.
Turning for home, the field began to close in on a tiring Speedy Dominic A, with the fresh legs of Camouflage Money, who used a four-wide move turning for home to win, going away by 1-1/2 lengths in a 1:51.4. Bettor Than Spring closed to be second with Speedy Dominic A digging in to be third.
It was the 11th career win for the four-year-old son by Carl Milstein Memorial champion Betting Line for owners Schillaci Stables, Sam Bova Racing and Lori Hamlet. The victory pushed Camouflage Money's earnings to $129,141.
Driven by Billy Davis Jr., Eye Ofa Tiger As made it back-to-back victories in the $20,000 co-featured Open Trot holding off Winning Shadow (Chris Lems) to win by three-quarters of a length.
Fashion Chocolate (Austin Hanners), Kandy Sweet (Kurt Sugg) and Winning Shadow were all hustled off the wings into the first turn. While Winning Shadow was able to work his way to the lead, Eye Ofa Tiger As stormed by before the quarter in :27.2.
Eye Ofa Tiger As got a breather in the second panel and was able to create slight separation from his foes, getting to the half in a leisurely :56.3. Into the backstretch, Tequila Talkin (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), who began his first-over bid before the half, began spinning his wheels and started to backpedal heading to three-quarters.
It was a two-horse race turning for home with Winning Shadow and Eye Ofa Tiger As duelling through the stretch, and Eye Ofa Tiger As dug in to win by a neck in 1:53.1. Tequila Talkin got things together late to finish third.
Owned by ACL Stuteri AB and Kjell Johansson, the Mark Headworth trainee is just shy of $900,000 in career earnings with 41 victories to his credit.
Live harness racing resumes on Monday evening at 6 p.m. (EDT).
(Northfield Park)