After battling sickness issues over the past couple of weeks, Rockin Bambi put it all together on Sunday, Oct. 22, winning the $22,000 Filly & Mare Distaff Handicap Pace in come-from-behind fashion at MGM Northfield Park.
Several mares attempted to leave early, but Think Of Galaxies (Anthony MacDonald) and A Delightful Act N (Billy Davis Jr.) tussled through the initial turn, with Think Of Galaxies clearing into the backstretch for the first time.
However, that lead was short-lived as Delightful Act N pulled out of the pocket, applying pressure with a three-wide Creme Delight (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) also challenging. Getting to the opening quarter in :27.2, Think Of Galaxies was shuffled to third, with Creme Delight taking over the top spot into the far turn, forcing A Delightful Act N back into the pocket.
Approaching the half in :56.4, Rockin Bambi (Elliott Deaton) pulled from fifth and began a first-over bid with Mystical Virgin (Kurt Sugg) on her back second-over.
Into the clubhouse turn for the final time, it appeared Rockin Bambi was stalling, but she found another gear mid-way up the backstretch and began to pick off rivals. Getting to three-quarters in 1:25.2, Rockin Bambi got within three-quarters of a length of the lead and began applying pressure to Creme Delight into the far turn.
The pair would scrum throughout most of the final quarter, but Rockin Bambi was able to wear down Creme Delight, the second wagering favourite, in the final strides to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:54.1. A Delightful Act N, the bettors' choice, tried to close but had to settle for third with Mystical Virgin finishing fourth.
Owned by Broekhuis Stables LLC and Ernie Hochstetler, the four-year-old by Rockin Image pushed her career earnings to $128,245. It was the eighth victory of the year from 19 starts.
Sent to post at odds of 7-1, Rockin Bambi returned $16 to win.
Two very classy performers, one 10 years old and the other 65, teamed up to score a popular victory in Northfield Park’s weekly Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association (GLADA) event on Sunday.
Steve Oldford guided his classy veteran trotter Muscles For Life to a wire-to-wire 1:58 victory, holding off Baby Yoda, driven by Edward Miller, by a half-length. Golden Genes, handled by Jacob Baird, was just another nose back in third while Back Door Man, close to 20 lengths back halfway through after a miscue, closed fastest of all to be fourth for Christina Johnson. Brigitto, with Henry Beachy handling the lines, was fifth after a bold bid approaching the three-quarter station.
Muscles For Life, leaving from post two on this cool 44 degree evening, was sent with alacrity off the wings but met immediate pressure from Black Hawk Down, driven by Eric Miller. The result was a very hot :27.3 opener with these two racing as a team though the half in :56.2.
Around turn two, Black Hawk Down began to feel some weariness from that first half tussle but then came Brigitto to call to keep the pressure on the leader at that third station in 1:26.3.
After putting away that challenge, Muscles For Life then had to deal with Baby Yoda, who was drafting behind the leader much of the way while finding a seam turning for home. But, while gaining slightly, Muscles For Life had enough left to score by that half-length margin.
In a post race interview, Oldford said, “He [Muscles For Life] might be aging a bit—aren’t we all—but he’s very classy and that class propelled him to the wire here.
“He might not be able to handle those 1:53 performers when he was younger, but he has that will to win—a great quality in a racehorse.”
Indeed. Muscles For Life won for the third time in six 2023 starts to send his lifetime bounty to $533,041. This was his 46th career win in 137 lifetime starts.
Trained by Maurice Goldschmidt Jr. for Oldford Racing LLC, the son of Muscle Mass paid $4 to his multitude of faithful.
Oldford now has 202 career wins.
(With files from Northfield Park and GLADA)