Proving once again that he is simply too much for his rivals in the Free For All class here at Balmoral Park, Redbud Stable and Michael Mcneely’s Thisbigdogwilfight cruised to a three-quarter length triumph in a speedy 1:51.3 over a sloppy track in Saturday night’s main event
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Sent right to the front from post position eight by driver John De Long, the seven-year-old gelding easily made the top leading the way through an opening quarter in :28.
“He’s just as good from behind but I didn’t want to have to come from last on this kind of track,” explained De Long. “I figured I’d leave out of there and if there was a hole I’d take it. We weren’t going that much so I just let him pace right on up to the front.”
Leading the way down to the half-mile mark in :55.1, Thisbigdogwilfight encountered a first over challenge from Major Monet (Dean Magee) as the field headed into the final turn.
“I was really kind of surprised that Dean pulled from the three-hole,” said De Long. “He made us work a little bit but my horse can be a little bit lazy so I figured I’d let the other horse look him in the eye and then give him his head at the top of the stretch.”
Rolling by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:23.1, Thisbigdogwilfight quickly put away the challenge of the first over Major Monet. After disposing of that one, a second over Delightful Five (Mike Oosting) staged a late bid but the issue was never in doubt as Thisbigdogwilfight won for the third time in as many starts this year. Delightful Five was second while Fort Silky (Marcus Miller) finished third.
Under the watchful eye of conditioner Jim Eaton the son of The Big Dog now boasts 38 career victories and more than $735,000 in earnings. Despite being assigned the outside starting spot Thisbigdogwilfight returned $4.40, $3.00 and $2.20.
(With files from Balmoral Park)