Coaches Corner paced the fourth fastest mile in the history of Saratoga Casino Hotel on Saturday, July 20 as the Per Engblom trainee scored an impressive victory in the 15th annual Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace.
Jason Bartlett piloted Coaches Corner, who hadn’t raced in over a month before his try in the $342,466 Gerrity but drew post two in off a qualifier at The Meadowlands in which he covered the mile in 1:50 with a sparkling final quarter of :25.4. The morning line favourite in the Gerrity, Coaches Corner went off as the 5-2 second-choice in the wagering with “major danger” Desperate Man drawing post eight for his try.
Coaches Corner paced out to the lead in a sizzling :26.2 first quarter before reaching the half in :54.4. As Desperate Man (Matt Kakaley) revved up his engine, he was caught three-wide past three quarters in 1:22. Bartlett asked Coaches Corner for all he had turning for home just as pocket-sitter Backstreet Shadow (Tyler Buter) took his shot at the leader in the stretch. At the wire, it was Coaches Corner who reigned supreme, stopping the timer in 1:49.3, the fourth fastest clocking in track history.
Backstreet Shadow finished second, coming up just a length shy of the victory. Longshot Pleaseletmeknow (Mark MacDonald) earned the show spot while the favoured Desperate Man had to settle for fourth after navigating through a difficult journey in the season’s richest race at the Spa.
Four-year-old Coaches Corner (Always A Virgin - Carobbean Pacetry) is owned in partnership by Brian Carsey and Jeff Fought Racing, paying $7.10 to win as he boosted his lifetime earnings to $715,894. With the win, Jason Bartlett — a three-time winner on the card — became the first driver to prevail twice in the Gerrity in its 15 years of installments as he piloted the 2015 winner PH Supercam for trainer Jeff Bamond Jr. Engblom is now the 15th different trainee to send out a Gerrity winner.
Live racing resumes at Saratoga on Thursday, July 25 with a first post time set for 5 p.m.
(Saratoga Casino Hotel)