Endeavor ($24.60) sustained a first-over grind for the last three-eighths of a 1:49.4 mile to register an 11-1 upset in the $100,000 Potomac Pace, contested on Sunday night (Nov. 10) at Rosecroft Raceway.
The six-year-old son of American Ideal bided his time in the early stages of the one-mile invitational, contently drafting from fourth in line to Tim Tetrick while Dorsoduro Hanover (Matt Kakaley) and 3-5 favourite American History (Joe Bongiorno) disputed a :27.1 first quarter. American History worked clear with a circuit to go and maintained an intense pace through middle splits of :54.2 and 1:21.2, and Endeavor began his uncovered ascent with three furlongs remaining.
After encroaching steadily up the backstretch, Endeavor worked into second off the home turn. With American History fully extended in the final sixteenth, Endeavor was able to work to a deep-stretch lead, lunging to reach in the final strides. Dealt A Winner (David Miller) lifted up the open stretch to miss by a scant neck, and American History finished an engulfed third.
“I was hoping Joe (Bongiorno) and Dorsoduro would kind of fight it out to the quarter, but I think Matty (Kakaley) was already planning on following Joey’s horse,” Tetrick said. “It worked out good for me. I was watching Joe’s horse leave the gate, and he seemed a little rough-gaited. I thought maybe if I can get to him and pressure him down the backside, I can have a little shot at maybe being second or third instead of fourth. My horse is a great, big grinding horse, and I wanted to wear him down.
“I was doing all I could to get to him,” concluded Tetrick. “I was pushing my horse, but that’s the way he likes it.”
Trainer Jeff Cullipher co-owns 31-time winner Endeavor with Pollack Racing LLC.
The Potomac field was reduced to six starters as a result of McWicked and This Is The Plan both scratching due to sickness.
(with quotes from Rosecroft Raceway)