Five Straight For Vel Miss Taylor

The sharp mare Vel Miss Taylor had things her own way at First Tracks Cumberland on Friday, May 30,, holding off a handful of challengers and securing her fifth straight score.
Leaving from post four in a $6,849 conditioned fillies and mares pace, the four-year-old daughter of Ponder was stung to the first quarter in :28 by Cash Crazy Express (Shawn Thayer). From there driver McGwire Sowers was able to control the tempo more to his mare’s liking. While enjoying a :59 half-mile mark breather, the outer flow started to materialize with Maggie At Bat (Aaron Hall) first over and pushing the pacesetter to a swifter 1:27.4 third panel.
Around the final turn Gowestyounggrace (Dave Ingraham) shot three-wide from sixth to march toward the wire with the pack. A tight group of four horses engulfed the leader in the lane. They tried valiantly to snap Vel Miss Taylor’s streak; however, the mare dug in gamely and outlasted her foes to grab victory from the jaws of defeat. She prevailed by a neck in 1:57.3, a new seasonal best.
The other co-favorite, Maggie At Bat finished in a dead heat for place with Gowestyounggrace.
Trained by Autym Robinson, Vel Miss Taylor is owned and was co-bred by Mo Coo Inc. This was the mare’s tenth seasonal victory and fifth in a row, increasing her career bankroll to $137,653 with 27 wins. She paid $4.60 to win as the 6-5 co-favourite.
Racing continues on Saturday, May 31 with 11 races, 10 of which are divisions of our Spring Pacing Series Late Closers.
(with files from First Tracks Cumberland)