After Timeisonemyside set devastating fractions early, the streaking Sabonis was able to pick up the pieces late, rallying to win the $410,959 Carl Milstein Memorial for three-year-old pacers on Saturday, Aug. 10 at MGM Northfield Park.
The Carl Milstein Memorial was the first time Sabonis had raced on a half-mile track, but his connections were never worried about their prized colt.
“He was pretty good at home on a half, I figured we would give it a shot and see what happened,” said winning trainer Aaron Stutzman.
Dan Noble wasted no time putting Pariss Dragon into play, timing the gate perfectly and sprinting off the wings into the opening turn, but Timeisonmyside (Anthony MacDonald) was not about to let his rival clear, with the pair getting to a bone crushing :25.4 first quarter.
“Once I saw that quarter pop up, I thought to myself, well. we will be okay,” said Stutzman.
It was then that Noble decided to back off the pace, with Timeisonmyside driving on to take the lead at the inside around the far turn for the first time. MacDonald tried to get a breather, but Timeisonmyside was on a speed mission, getting to the half in a demanding :54.1.
Entering the backstretch, Timeisonmyside had a two-length lead and showed no signs of slowing down with Pariss Dragon and even-money favourite Wish You Well (David Miller) chasing about three to four lengths off the lead.
Ronnie Wrenn Jr. asked Noblesville to improve, but he was spinning his wheels up the backstretch, forcing Sabonis (Joey Putnam) to go three-deep with Storm Shadow (Scott Zeron) breaking stride.
Timeisonmyside got to three-quarters in 1:21.4, with Wish You Well applying serious pressure, with eventual winner Sabonis still 6-3/4 lengths off the pace turning for home.
“When I saw the three-quarter time pop up, I was confident we would get there,” said Putnam. “The horse can do it from anywhere. When my hand was forced early to go three-wide, I was confident in his ability.”
Through the stretch, Sabonis worked his way to the lead and won impressively in 1:50.3. Timeisonmyside dug in gamely to be second, with Wish You Well third and Sweet Beach Life (Matt Kakaley), who was begging for racing room, finishing fourth.
“It was a great night, the horse was awesome,” said Putnam. “At Hoosier, the bottom turn is tight. I wasn’t worried about him at all tonight.”
The Tellitlikeitis-Gypsy Bellevue colt made it eight wins in a row, pushing his career earnings to $445,400.
Winning owner Pat Miller told Gabe Prewitt following the race, “I’m a complete loss for words.”
Making his first start outside of Indiana, Sabonis has never finished worse than third and is now 12-for-14 lifetime.
Sent postward as the 2-1 second choice, he paid $6 to win.
Odds On Platinum Crushes Courageous Lady Competition
The odds-on favourite Odds On Platinum was an impressive winner in the $136,986 Courageous Lady for three-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday for newly minted Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Dr. Ian Moore.
There was a four-wide skirmish to the first turn with Sarasota Hanover (Scott Zeron), Odds On Platinum (David Miller), Wasted On You (Brett Miller) and Soft Shot (Justin Irvine) all battling for position. Sarasota Hanover rounded the turn and Odds On Platinum assumed pocket position, with Wasted On You findinf a seat on the rail, but Irvine decided to take no prisoners, brushing to the front with Soft Shot into the backstretch for the first time.
Soft Shot, who was facing stakes competition for the first time, grabbed the track and got the opening quarter in a dazzling :26.3. Irvine got a :28.4 breather, leading the field into the clubhouse turn for the final time, with Odds On Platinum driving up first-over for Miller.
Winning trainer Moore wasn’t concerned with the testing fractions the field set early, noting, “I told him [Miller] that she could bust the gate if he needed to, but she does better chasing. She’s very long and has a long stride to her.”
At the mid-point of the backstretch, Soft Shot was holding her own, but when Miller pulled the plugs on Odds On Platinum at three-quarters in 1:23 she took off. Moving onto the far turn, Soft Shot gave way and Odds On Platinum opened an insurmountable lead through the stretch, winning by 4-3/4 lengths in an eye-popping 1:51.2. Gone Coastal (Dan Noble) rallied from the backfield to take second over Soft Shot.
“That’s a pretty big mile here on a cool night,” said Moore. “She’s trained on a half the last two summers; I didn’t have any concerns. She’s getting better with every start.
Owned by Let It Ride Stables and Odds On Racing, the Bettors Delight-American Jewel filly pushed her earnings to $614,965. She earned her sixth career victory in 21 lifetime starts.
Burke Sweeps Undercard Features With Its Academic And Act Fast
Trainer Ron Burke, unhappy with the trip he got in the John Cashman Memorial, was sure his talented trotter Its Academic would rebound in the $136,986 Tom Aldrich President’s Trot on Saturday. And rebound he did.
“It’s a different group of horses here, I think David [Miller] wanted to race from the back,” laughed the U.S. Hall of Fame trainer. “I told him, I didn’t think that would work tonight, bud.”
The sprint was on into the opening turn with favourite Its Academic (David Miller), Herecomescharlie B (Billy Davis Jr.) and Black Magic (Scott Zeron) all vying for position. Entering the backstretch, Black Magic finally worked his way to the lead, in front of Its Academic, with Herecomescharlie B wrestled into third.
Black Magic made it to the opening quarter in a swift :27.4, with Zeron trying to get a breather in the second quarter, but Its Academic would have none of it, tipping to the outside first-over around the far turn for the first time. Its Academic was able to clear to the half in :56.3.
After that, the rest of the foes were battling for minor spoils, as Its Academic cruised to a 1-3/4-length lead at three-quarters in 1:25. Turning for home, Miller geared down the Ohio-sired champion, winning decisively by 6-1/2 lengths in 1:52.4. Black Magic was the runner-up and Guido Di (Brady Brown) came on for third.
“He raced very well," said Miller. "The fractions we more suitable for him. He was very strong.”
Owned by Brad Grant of Milton, Ont., the seven-year-old son of Uncle Peter pushed his career earnings past $2.6 million and now has 32 victories in 87 lifetime starts.
Burke wasn’t done, as Act Fast (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) dug in gamely, holding off Racing Rampage (Matt Kakaley) to win the $136,986 Myron Charna President’s Pace.
Like the Aldrich, there was a lot of movement early with Liteningonthebeach (Aaron Merriman), Racing Rampage and Act Fast sprinting into the opening turn. The three of them continued to drag race into the backstretch, when Liteningonthebeach took up pocket position behind Racing Rampage, who continued to duel with Act Fast at an electric opening quarter of :26.
“The horse has a lot of gate speed, I wasn’t afraid to push. Ronnie [Burke] said that he warmed up really good,” said winning driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. “I wasn’t worried with the sprint up the backstretch, the track has been good tonight.”
Act Fast was torched making the lead entering the far turn, but Wrenn was able to get a breather in the second quarter with a :55 half. Into the clubhouse turn for the final time, Seafire (Scott Zeron) made a bid for the lead and while it looked like he may not have anything for Act Fast in the turn, moving up the backstretch he began to apply serious pressure, with the pair getting to three-quarters in 1:22.2.
Turning for home, Act Fast turned away Seafire, but had to brace for slight favourite Racing Rampage, who was as gutsy as they come through the stretch. In the end, Act Fast dug in gamely, holding off Racing Rampage to win by a nose in 1:50.2. Quick Trick (David Miller) finished third over Seafire.
Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, Rich Lombardo Racing and Beasty, the four-year-old gelding by Downbytheseaside pushed his career earnings to $593,429 with his 13th career win from 49 starts.
Sires Catch The Fire, Bit Of A Legend N Highlight Ohio Sires Stakes
On a night that featured some of Ohio’s greatest stars in the Tom Aldrich President’s Trot and Myron Charna President’s Pace, sires Catch The Fire and Bit Of A Legend N shined in Ohio Sires Stakes action for two-year-old colt and gelding pacers.
In the first of two $89,041 divisions, My First Fire (Austin Hanners) waited out a lengthy inquiry to win by a neck. The son of Catch The Fire, was parked to the opening quarter, working hard to get around Extra Suds (Brett Miller) for the lead, with the pair arriving at the quarter in :28.
Hanners was able to get a second quarter breather, getting to the half in :57.3. My First Fire tried to create some separation and at three-quarters in 1:25.4 was home free, but Extra Suds found a little more in the tank, but ran out of racetrack, with My First Fire winning in 1:54.1. Whatchagonnado (Aaron Merriman) was third.
It was the third win of the year for the Todd Luther trainee, who is owned by Greg Luther Racing LLC.
In the second $89,041 division, heavy favourite Rick Wink (David Miller) made short work of the field, making the lead and never looking back, winning by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:51.4 over Twin B High Tide (Austin Hanners).
House Of Brix (Trevor Smith) rallied three-wide late to be third.
Owned by Burke Racing Stable, R A S Racing, Knox Services, J&T Silva Purnell and Libby, the two-year-old out dam Mcgrin N Mcbare It made it five-for-five in his career.
A replay of Saturday's race card from Northfield Park is available below.
(With files from Northfield Park)
Sabonis
Sabonis is the only horse of any age, sex, or gait in North America that has won more than 10 races in 2024 and has never finished worse than 2nd. He has never lost an Indiana Sire Stakes race.