It figured to be a two-horse battle between the stakes winning speedballs My Boy Luke and Trophy Hunter but when the smoke cleared in Saturday’s $12,000 Bye Bye Byrd Stake at Balmoral Park it was the one time $8,000 claimer Bushwood Z Tam who emerged with a head victory in 1:53.3
over a track rated as "good".
Things went as planned through the early going as My Boy Luke (Josh Sutton) used the inside starting spot to his full advantage “seating” a hard leaving Trophy Hunter (Tyler Buter) as the two-rolled through an opening quarter in :27.3.
Positions remained unchanged down the backside with My Boy Luke leading the way through a half-mile in :56.2. Trophy Hunter was right on his back in second while Bushwood Z Tam (Brandon Simpson) inched up a closer third while skimming the pylons.
Midway around the turn My Boy Luke continued to show the way with Trophy Hunter still sitting in the pocket. Simpson then decided to move Bushwood Z Tam from the three-hole with Daretodogreatthings (Todd Warren) moving into fourth on the outside as the field reached the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:25.
Through the stretch the early fractions began to take their toll on a tiring My Boy Luke as Bushwood Z Tam continued a steady grinding assault on the leader from the outside while Trophy Hunter searched for room along the inside.
Coming to the wire, Bushwood Z Tam finally managed to put a head in front as Trophy Hunter came charging up the passing lane to finish second while Daretodogreathings finished third.
The victory was the fourth in 14 starts this season for the son of Sportsmaster-Cr First Lady, who now sports $23,863 in earnings for owner-trainer David McCaffrey and Z Tam Racing. Sent off at odds of 6-1, Bushwood Z Tam returned $14.80, $4.80 and $3.40.
(Balmoral Park)