Iron Mine Bucky survived a miserable first quarter in the slop and went on to capture the faster division of Saturday’s $116,304 Currier & Ives at The Meadows. Cufflink Hanover took the other division in the stakes for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters.
Iron Mine Bucky hadn’t raced since winning an Oct. 2 Keystone Classic split at The Meadows, and he got just the sort of journey — stuck outside — winning driver George Dennis didn’t want.
“I wasn’t expecting to get that rough a trip,” Dennis said. “They didn’t go that much early, and he got a little excited — first time out, first time in the mud. I didn’t want to wrestle him back to last.”
But the Hambletonian-eligible son of Explosive Matter-My Foolish Dream persevered on the outside and overpowered the leader, 2-5 favourite Hititoutofthepark. Iron Mine Bucky prevailed in 1:55.2, one and a half lengths better than Steed, while Hititoutofthepark saved show.
“He really trotted strong up the backside and turned in a big mile,” Dennis said. “I’m very, very pleased.”
Greg Haverstick trains Iron Mine Bucky, who extended his career bankroll to $132,023, for Iron Mine Branch LLC.
Cufflink Hanover has won three of four starts since adding hopples, and he again looked useful and professional. He worked out a pocket trip behind Truemass Volo, then blew by him in the lane to triumph in 1:55.4. Hollywood Highway found late room for second, two lengths back, with Truemass Volo third.
“He’s been getting lucky with his trips, and he’s been racing good,” said winning driver David Miller, who owns the Andover Hall-CR Savoire Faire gelding with the Enzed Racing Stable of the colt’s trainer, Nifty Norman. “He seemed way sharper today than he did last week. He’s coming along really nice.”
Saturday’s rain-soaked program also featured the $70,500 filly division of the Currier & Ives, with Goodtogo Hanover rolling to her seventh consecutive victory. Lookin Sharp erased a sizable deficit to take the other split.
Goodtogo Hanover was away second for Brian Zendt, who moved her to the point before the quarter. The daughter of Explosive Matter-Grammy Hall held off the late challenge of the pocket-sitting Witnesstheprincess by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.4. Moots completed the ticket.
Goodtogo Hanover, who vaulted over $100,000 in career earnings, is undefeated in seven outings this year, but she showed once again that she can be a handful until the gate folds.
“She was a little wild behind the gate — ohmygosh,” Zendt said. “She had her head hung up on the gate for a minute. She was so mad I don’t know how she didn’t run. She makes you worry, but as long as you don’t have her doubled up and mad, she’ll be okay. She doesn’t want to run. All she wants to do is get out of there.”
Bill Zendt conditions Goodtogo Hanover and owns with Gary Saul.
Lookin Sharp, the 4-5 favourite, trailed the leader, Sunset Glider, by three lengths at the three-quarters when Matt Kakaley suggested it was time to get busy. She tracked down Sunset Glider and downed her by a neck in 1:57, with My Pink Bike third.
“Of all the horses we sent to Florida [for the winter], she’s probably one of the horses who grew up and matured the most,” said Tyler Butenschoen, assistant to winning trainer John Butenschoen. “I saw a big difference in her. She showed late in the year she could go with the best fillies. The more the year went on, the more she learned and the better she got.”
William Wiswell and M&L of Delaware campaign the daughter of Andover Hall-Warrawee Krisp, who soared over $200,000 in career earnings.
(The Meadows)