Gerardo has become quite an acquisition for owner Mark Bogen and trainer-driver Kayne Kauffman, who plucked the four-year-old son of Rockin Image out of a Blooded Horse Sale in Springfield, Ohio prior to the start of his 2019 season.
Since the acquisition, he has won four of his first six races for his new connections, all in late closer series action, including both the $25,000 final of the George Williams Memorial last month and now the $27,500 final of the Tom Tharps Memorial on Saturday night (April 6).
Kauffman put Gerardo on the front in the Tharps championship, then dueled with Rockin Speed the entire last half of the 1:50 mile—equaling the track record for four-year-olds. Thisjetsabookin set the previous record in 2016 and Gerries Sport equaled the mark in 2017.
The two favourites raced side by side through the stretch, with Rockin Speed sticking a nose in front midway through the stretch before Gerardo reemerged on the inside and gained the slight advantage at the wire. Somebeachsomeday was next best to nab the show dough.
A large throng of Tharps family and friends surrounded Gerardo and Kauffman in an emotional winner’s circle presentation. Kauffman and the late Tom Tharps’ son Randy—the winningest black harness driver in history—are very close friends and Kauffman knows the matriarch of the family, Carol, and all Randy’s brothers, sisters and extended family extremely well.
A race later Granite broke an eight-week dry spell by copping the $24,000 Open I Pace in 1:49.3, the quickest mile of the 2019 season thus far.
Driver Brett Miller took advantage of a serious speed duel between Angelo J Fra and Cyclone Kiwi N. The dueling duo tripped the first two fractions :25.1 and :52.3, then Miller swung Granite around the tiring pair as the field approached the three-quarter mark in 1:20.4. Granite had GD Western Joe in hot pursuit around the final bend, but Granite held onto his short lead as GD Western Joe drifted in the stretch. My Buddy Ninkster finished third.
(with files from Miami Valley Raceway)