Dynamic Youth lowered his own track record for three-year-old pacing geldings at Tioga Downs on Monday when he and driver George Brennan rallied to a 1:48.4 score in the first jewel of harness racing’s pacing Triple Crown – the $322,716 Cane Pace.
The son of Bettors Delight-Always True got away near the back of the pack while Time To Roll rocketed to the top and had the field chasing him past an opening quarter clocked in :25.1. A Rocknroll Dance, who was coupled with Dynamic Youth in the wagering, tipped off the pylons in front of the grandstand and proceeded to work his way to the top en route to the half in a :53-second clip.
A Rocknroll Dance maintained the lead across the backstretch and he eventually tripped the beam at the three-quarter pole in 1:20.3. Pet Rock was first over coming out of the final turn and Brennan was stalking that foe in the drive to the wire. A Rocknroll Dance began to tire, and Pet Rock forged his way to the lead heading into the final eighth of the rich tilt only to get picked off in the final strides by Dynamic Youth and Brennan in 1:48.4. Pet Rock was a determined runner-up, with Bettors Edge re-rallying to finish third. A Rocknroll Dance faded to fourth, and Heston Blue Chip, who was out of position throughout, rallied to grab the fifth-place cheque.
“I had no game plan whatsoever, I just hoped for a speed duel up front and that’s exactly what happened,” said driver George Brennan. “I was out the whole mile. I got Pet Rock in front of me in the first turn and followed him the whole way before putting my horse in the middle of the track.”
Aaron Lambert trains the eight-time winner for J And T Silva Stables LLC, Kenneth Tucci and C And G Racing Stable. The win improved this year’s record to 5-3-2 from 13 assignments and the lion’s share of the purse bumped his overall earnings to $472,740.
Although he is not eligible to the Little Brown Jug, Dynamic Youth can be supplemented into the second jewel of the Triple Crown - the Little Brown Jug - on Thursday, September 20 in Delaware, Ohio.
In the $100,000 Shady Daisy for three-year-old pacing fillies it was Blackjack Princess, who was sent off as the longest shot on the toteboard, who took home the title for driver Mark MacDonald who rallied her to the upset victory.
Bettor B Lucky and Persistent blazed a path to the quarter pole in :25.4 before Persistent managed to work her way to the top. She continued to roll along while feeling parked-pressure from the 4-5 favourite, Major Look, and the two of the them were together at the mid-way point in a :53-second clip.
Major Look worked her way to the motor, but came under immediate pressure from Bettor B Lucky. They went toe-to-toe to the three-quarter pole in 1:21, and by the time the head of the lane rolled around they were running on fumes. Blackjack Princess and MacDonald, who trailed for most of the mile, made a four-wide brush to the leaders turning for home and out-staggered the competition to the line in a time of 1:51.1. Bettor B Lucky managed to hold on for second, with JK Fine Art grabbing the show dough.
“She’s a good filly, and I thought if they battled she’d get a good piece of it,” said driver Mark MacDonald. “She’s been racing a lot better than her lines look. She just keeps getting better. As the year goes on I just hope she gets better. I think she’s got the Jugette next.”
Mark Ford trains the daughter of Cams Card Shark-Happy Doris for owner Robert Di Nozzi of Ossining, NY. It was her second consecutive win and the third of the season for career winner of $240,347.