After finishing in the runner-up role behind the undefeated Fox Valley Qatar the last two weeks Taylor & Robert Rietveld and Robert Taylor’s RT Habenero picked the right night to turn the tables on the division leader.
RT Habenero turned in a sterling effort to win the year’s richest event for Illinois conceived and foaled two-year-old trotting colts taking Sunday’s $97,000 Lincoln Land Stake by a widening four-length margin in 1:58.0 for driver Dave Magee.
Firing off the wings of the gate from post seven for his Hall of Fame reinsman the gelded son of Armbro Tropicana—Heather Jenna grabbed control of the early proceedings leading the field through opening splits of :28.3 and :58.0.
“With Fox Valley Qatar drawing outside of us I knew I needed to get my horse out of there in a hurry,” explained Magee. “I wasn't necessarily dead-set on being on the front end but it worked out that way when another leaver made an early break so that’s where we wound up landing.”
Moving around the far turn the unbeaten Fox Valley Qatar (Todd Warren) came flying up on the outside of horses, zipping right by the pace setting RT Habenero as the field reached the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:27.1.
Never one to panic, Magee kept after RT Habenero through the stretch and the Robert Taylor trained youngster responded beautifully, reeling in the heavy favorite with a sixteenth of a mile to go and quickly drawing clear heading to the wire for his second win in nine career starts. Fox Valley Qatar was forced to settle for the runner-up role on this night while Jake Quaider (Casey Leonard) shook loose late after a tough trip to rally for the show dough.
When asked in the winner’s circle if he was worried when the undefeated odds-on choice flew right by him nearing the top of the stretch the always calm and cool Magee responded in his typical laid back fashion.
“My horse really wanted to 'race' that horse when he came up alongside of us but I didn't want to use him up right then and there,” said Magee. “I knew my horse still had plenty of trot left in him and it seemed like Fox Valley Qatar was really all out to get around us so maybe he wasn't at his best tonight. This horse has really been sharp in his last three starts and while he’s not all that big he’s got a great deal of grit and desire which he definitely showed out there tonight.”
With the win RT Habenero who returned $19.20, $4.60 & $2.80 now boasts a career record of 2-3-2 in nine starts with earnings of just over $67,000.
(Balmoral Park)