The Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association (GLADA) returned to Northfield Park on Sunday, May 19 after a brief hiatus and amateur driver Braiden Rhoades teamed up with the six-year-old mare Tulsa Bell to score the win in 1:58.
Showing speed off the wings, Tulsa Bell was away in an alert fashion to take command into the opening turn and yielded to Rose Run Vincent right before the :28.4 opening marker…but only for a few strides.
Rhoades then sent the mare back to the top and put up numbers of :59.2 and 1:28.3 before a sharp :29.2 kick home sealed the deal by 1-1/2 lengths over Walters Keepsake, handled by Larry Ferrari, and Muscles For Life, with Lauren Harmon in the sulky — that pair in a dead-heat for place honours with the latter rallying after being shuffled to fifth.
In a post-race interview, the 19-year-old Rhoades related, “This mare has been racing in a bit tougher company and really not drawing too well and tonight’s post fit her very well.
“David [trainer Lake] said, ‘Go out there and have a good time,’ and I knew that she likes the front end of things and had won many of her lifetime wins on the engine so this was the time to let her do what she likes best.
“When we were passed going to the first quarter, she seemed like she wanted to go back to the top so I kind of followed her directions and let her retake," Rhoades continued. “It’s always good to ‘listen’ to the horse you’re driving and she made me look pretty darn good tonight!”
Trained by David Lake for owner Robert Beachy, Tulsa Bell won for the second time in 10 starts this semester, good for $21,425 and $161,033 lifetime.
For the 19-year-old Braiden Rhoades, whose training prowess has become well known the past two seasons, it was his first driving success in his four starts in GLADA competition this year.
Sent off as the 8-5 toteboard favourite, Tulsa Bell paid $5.40 to her many faithful.
(GLADA)