Foreign Officer went off stride in the final of the Confederation Cup at half-mile Flamboro Downs, but trainer Tony Alagna is not concerned about the colt getting around the turns at half-mile Freehold Raceway in Saturday’s single elimination for the $300,000 Cane Pace
. The Cane Pace is the first jewel in the Pacing Triple Crown.
Three horses – BGs Folly, Delmarvalous, and One More Laugh – got byes into the final, where they will be joined on Labor Day (September 6) by the top five elim finishers.
Last Saturday, Foreign Officer won from Post 7 at Freehold in a division of the New Jersey Sire Stakes. After sitting sixth at the quarter-mile point, driver Jim Pantaleano and Foreign Officer made a first-over move and wore down pace-setting Shoobees Place before holding off Whackamole Hanover in 1:52.4.
“He was very good at Freehold; probably one of his best efforts ever,” Alagna said. “I think the smaller track suits him. He’s very handy and tactical. He can leave or duck or whatever you need him to do. It was a surprise what he did in the Confederation Cup. It wasn’t a matter of track size; it was just one of those things.”
In the Confederation Cup, where eliminations and final were contested on the same day, Foreign Officer finished fourth in his elim (beaten just 1-3/4 lengths by BGs Folly) and was second after the first quarter-mile of the final before going off stride briefly. He regained second place by the three-quarter point, but his trip on the outside of the pack took its toll and he ended up ninth.
“He left out of there great both trips,” Alagna said. “You couldn’t ask for [driver Jody Jamieson] to do a better job to put him in position to win the second heat. Going into the second turn, he started to take himself up a little bit; we’re not sure exactly what he did. He got rough. He cost himself a two-hole trip and was parked the rest of the way. He held in there very well considering how long he was parked. He was out a long time.
“You don’t leave in two [opening] quarters in :26 seconds at Flamboro and have an issue with the turns,” he added. “It was just one of those things.”
Foreign Officer has won four of 16 races this year and earned $146,647. He won the $100,000 Meadowlands Pace Consolation in 1:49.4 on July 17 for his top victory so far.
A week later, in his elimination for the Delvin Miller Adios, Foreign Officer started from Post 8 and failed to make the final. He got to the front with a first quarter-mile of :25.3 and held the lead through fractions of :55.1 and 1:22.3 before finishing fifth, beaten 3-1/2 lengths.
“He’s shown on occasions that he can be just as competitive as anything in that bunch as long as he’s on his game,” Alagna said. “The Meadowlands Pace Consolation, of course they didn’t go anywhere near what they went in the Meadowlands Pace final, but he was very good that night. The horse can be a contender on his best day.”
Daniel Dube will drive Foreign Officer in the Cane Pace elim. It will be Foreign Officer’s fifth start in a month.
“He doesn’t mind the racing; he doesn’t like a lot of work during the week,” Alagna said. “It actually works to his advantage. He stays fit, but you don’t have to do much with him between starts. He’s an easy keeper and holds his weight well. I’m not really concerned about racing him right back.”
Foreign Officer will start from Post 6 in the Cane Pace elim.
“It could be worse,” Alagna said. “Six still gives you a little room to play with. He was very good from the back [last weekend at Freehold]. We’re going to leave that up to Dube; it’s his decision when the gate folds. He has tactical speed and a very quick foot off the gate. He’s pretty versatile. If the horse puts his best foot forward, he can be very competitive in there.”
Following is the field in post position order for the Cane Pace elimination with listed drivers and trainers:
1. Im Gorgeous, Andy Miller, George Teague Jr.
2. Malicious, David Miller, Ian Moore
3. Woodstock, Brian Sears, Noel Daley
4. Urgent Action, Ron Pierce, Jerry Silverman
5. Valentino, George Brennan, Lou Pena
6. Foreign Officer, Daniel Dube, Tony Alagna
7. Rockin Image, Yannick Gingras, Jimmy Takter
8. Tobago Cays, Cat Manzi, Jeffrey Webster
This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.