The $300,000 USD Carl Milstein Memorial Pace (Grade 2) this Saturday, Aug. 9 at MGM Northfield Park will feature competitors from all over North America. But for one of the horses racing, his trainer would love to make it a ‘first’ for his state.
Hailing from “The First State” known as Delaware, Primo Maschio ("Primo" meaning first) has pointed to the Milstein since winning the $150,685 Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund final at Harrington Raceway on July 17.
“We were hoping we were hoping to get an invitation after his win at Harrington," said trainer Kevin Lare. "He did it so easily and we are excited to be part of the race on Saturday.”
Owner Forrest Bartlett, who owned 1986 U.S. Horse of the Year Forrest Skipper, purchased Primo Maschio after he and Lare watched him in a mini-series at Ocean Downs at the start of his two-year-old season. Once they found out he was Delaware eligible, the connections were very interested.
“He raced very well at Ocean Downs and we were impressed with what we saw," said Lare. "We reached out to Michael Hall, who had him at the time, and Forrest purchased him.”
The purchase has taken his connections on a ride they won’t soon forget. In his first start in the new barn, Primo Maschio romped to a 13-3/4-length victory against Maryland-sired horses at Ocean Downs. Following another powerful victory against the conditioned company at Harrington, it was time to see what exactly they had from their talented gelding.
After winning the eliminations for the Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund eliminations, he cruised to a 2-1/2-length win in the six-figure final. The connections gave their prized gelding a month off before the next round of Breeders’ Fund races at Dover Downs and after just missing two weeks in a row, the son of Badlands Hanover and Primadonna turned it on in the final, winning by four lengths in 1:53.4.
Coming back as a three-year-old, Primo Maschio continued to mature, reeling off three straight victories in a Breeders’ Fund late-closing series at Dover before shipping to Plainridge Park for a try against Grand Circuit company in the $138,889 Paul Revere Pace.
Luck was not on Primo Maschio’s side that afternoon.
Leaving the gate, he grabbed a shoe and almost made a break. Driver Walter Case Jr. helped the pacer compose himself but he couldn’t find position on the rail, so Case drove on with Primo Maschio before a testing :26.2 first quarter.
Heading to the half, Primo Maschio was passed by rivals and entering the backstretch got mired in traffic trouble.
“Had he not grabbed a shoe at the start, I think we would have had a different outcome at Plainridge,” said Lare of the third-place result. “He raced very good up there, considering all of the circumstances, we were happy with his effort.”
Primo Maschio got some time off and returned to his winning ways in the first two Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund eliminations at Harrington, and after winning the Open Handicap at Ocean Downs in a lifetime best 1:51.3, it was on to the final at Harrington.
Again, he proved to easily be the best in the field. After taking the lead, he took no prisoners setting quick fractions and cruising to a 2-1/4-length victory in 1:53.1.
Entering Saturday’s Carl Milstein Memorial, the connections of Primo Maschio are glad to have a little luck on their side as they compete against Grand Circuit company again.
“Having drawn the rail, I think that gives us a huge advantage. We just need a little racing luck to be on our side.”
If the talented gelding crosses the line first on Saturday, Lare will not only be excited for all of the connections, but for The First State as well.
“Winning the Milstein would be a great feather in Primo Maschio’s cap, but not just for him, it would say a lot about Delaware-bred horses being able to compete at the top level.”
(With files from Northfield Park)