Ron Waples, driving Im Fabulous, won the $10,000 Mr. and Mrs. Elbridge Gerry Memorial Trot at Goshen Historic Track on Sunday (July 5) by one length in a time of 2:00.
The annual event, sponsored by Elbridge and Peter Gerry in memory of their parents, features drivers and trainers who have Hall of Fame status, with a meet and greet for fans after the race.
David Miller and Bad I Am led throughout the mile, through fractions of :29.2, 1:00 and 1:30.4. Waples steadily moved Im Fabulous from 11-1/2 lengths off the pace at the quarter-mile mark and pulled even with Miller and Im Fabulous in deep stretch before trotting past him for the win.
Bad I Am and Miller held for second and Wally Hennessey, driving Typical Newyorker, was third. The rest of the field, in order of finish, was Boysdroolgirlsrule (Bill O’Donnell), Twin B Alibi (John Campbell), Positively Sharp (Dick Stillings), Poppy Sydney Ridge (Jimmy Takter), and Kings Cavalier (Carmine Abbatiello).
The win was the sixth in 19 starts for Im Fabulous, who is owned by Brenda Messenger and Scott Woogen and is trained by Gary Messenger.
“It was very good out there and a lot of fun, many true gentlemen out there,” said Waples. “I think the fans know that, too. I had the best horse in there, I wouldn’t have come if they didn’t give me the best horse,” he said with a laugh.
“I come back because they ask me,” laughed O’Donnell. “I like coming back. I’m up in Canada and I don’t get to see these guys except when people like John [Campbell] and Dave [Miller] come up to race. Most of these guys, like Carmine [Abbatiello], I haven’t seen in God knows how long -- 15 years maybe.
“It’s camaraderie, we always had it. I don’t know if the young guys of today have it like we did, but we could race and compete night after night after night and bitch and moan at each other and then go and have a drink afterwards and forget about it.”
The $2,000 under saddle race, sponsored by Aden Brook and Peter Gerry, was won by Bosak and rider Helene Gregory for owner/trainer James DeLucia in 2:02.3 by five and a quarter lengths. It was the first win under saddle for the four-year-old son of Crazed.
Bosak led at every point of call, putting up fractions of :30.4, 1:01.2, and 1:32.1. Catalyst (Tara Hynes) was second and Striking Mystery (Jennifer Lowrey) was fourth-placed-third.
“He only did it once before and that was here two weeks ago,” said Gregory. “Jennifer [Conner] suggested to the trainer that I was going to be here anyway. I lost my ride when my other horse got claimed, so I didn’t think I’d have a ride. So Jennifer set this up for me, I really owe it to Jennifer Conner.
“I warmed him up and he was pretty strong, he pulled pretty hard, so I only went a couple laps. But when we got behind the gate he was perfect. I was told he gets strong when he warms up but then he calms down and they were right.”
Sunday was the final racing card of 2015 at Goshen. They will resume racing matinees in the month of June in 2016 and have a Grand Circuit meet over the July 4 weekend.
This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.