2008 Stallions
COMPELLED
p2,157.2; 3,152.2 ($246,036)
DERRYBEG
2,204.3h; 3,1:58 ($46,978)
SEA BATTLE
3,Q2:00.3f; 1:58.2 ($77,042)
7/18/08
THE RIVERBOAT GAMBLER
CASHES IN AT PLAINRIDGE
HJ Riverboat Gambler rallied in the final quarter mile at Plainridge Racecourse Monday afternoon, and tallied his second win in just six career starts. The 1:58.2 mile established a lifetime mark for the three year old pacing gelding, one of nine eligibles in his division of the 2008 Massachusetts Sire Stakes program.
Sent off as the wagering favorite after falling just short at 52-1 in his previous start, the son of Riverboat King was expertly handled by Todd O’Dea, who is among the track’s hottest drivers in recent weeks. The duo overcame traffic trouble at the top of the lane and then some rough strides in the mid-stretch to prevail in the photo finish. Owned and trained by Francis Witkowski, Jr. of
Last month Prime Time Talent, who like HJ Riverboat Gambler was unraced as a two-year-old, notched the first two victories of his career at Saratoga Raceway. HJ Riverboat Gambler, Prime Time Talent, along with the rest of this year’s sophomore class, will be in action when the three year old divisions of the Massachusetts Sire Stake get underway on Monday August 25th at Plainridge Racecourse. The 2008 edition of the sire stake program debuts a week earlier, when this year’s two year olds to post at Plainridge on Monday August 18th.
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7/11/08
THREE YEAR OLD FILLY PREVIEW
TUESDAY AT PLAINRIDGE
The top two contenders in the sophomore pacing filly division of the Massachusetts Sire Stakes will meet for the first time ever this coming Tuesday. Bet On Betty and Ms Jet Setter have been installed as the two morning line favorites in the afternoon’s first race at Plainridge Racecourse.
Owned by Al Ross, Bet On Betty is the defending champion in this division, having trounced her competition in last year’s final event. The daughter of Pacific Fella has been on the board in five of her eight
seasonal starts, and took a new lifetime mark of 1:56 flat on July 1st. John Mattero trains Bet On Betty, who starts from post position four for driver Richard Wojcio.
Unraced as a two year old, Ms Jet Setter has burst onto the scene winning two of her first three career starts for owner Steve Zajchowski. A daughter of Jet Laag, Ms Jet Setter enters the face off with her rival fresh off a lifetime best 1:56.2 last week. In that mile she paced a back half in under 57 seconds. Jim Hardy trains and drives Ms Jet Setter, who has drawn post position two on Tuesday.
Several other Massachusetts Sire Stake eligibles will see action this week at Plainridge, including HJ Riverboat Gambler, R.C. Gumption and R.C. Legacy. The 2008 edition of the sire stake program gets underway at Plainridge next month, when the two year olds debut on Monday August 18th. The three year old program begins one week later, on Monday August 25th.
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6/25/08
Racing Commission approves new qualifying standard
Today the Massachusetts State Racing Commission approved a request by the SOM board of directors to relax the qualifying standard for Sire Stake events by allowing a satisfactory charted raceline within the prevoius 45 days.
Under racing commission rules for harness racing a horse must show a satisfactory charted raceline within 30 days. Now, with commission approval, Sire Stake events will require an eligible entry to show a satisfactory charted raceline within 45 days from race date to race date.