Go Cowboy Go captured the $6,300 final leg of the Gotta Win One Now Pacing Series Saturday afternoon at Colonial Downs, his first win in the three week series.
Chris Page, Colonial’s 2011 leading driver, made his first appearance at this year’s fall meet Saturday and he captained Go Cowboy Go to a come from behind two length win. The seven-year-old Cambest gelding finished third in the five-eighths mile first leg and fifth in the three-quarter mile second leg, but still earned the public’s respect, going off as the 2-1 second favourite.
Dustin Ingraham’s Als Beach Boy went right to the front and cut early panels of :25.4, :54.1 and 1:23.2 before the field tightened up. Go Easy On Me, winner of both early legs, left the pocket and came outside to challenge as the field turned for home. Go Cowboy Go though, came three-wide from sixth at the same time and positioned himself strategically for the late rally. The Jeff Amann trainee crossed in a lifetime best 1:53.1 over fast-closing Whiting Hanover, another pacer who came on strong deep in the stretch.
Go Cowboy Go is owned by Jessica Gamble of Northfield, Ohio while the runner-up is owned and was driven by Ron McLenaghan of Providence Forge, Virginia.
The $4,500 third leg of the Horace Martin Memorial Pacing Series also settled into the one mile distance Saturday after identical short distance early legs. Pat Karcher’s Ramember, sent off at 34-1, passed a trio of front steppers in the stretch to pull off the big upset. The seven-year-old Rambaran gelding scratched out of the first Martin leg and finished eighth in the second one. Ramember crossed in a lifetime best 1:53, one length over Jason MacDougall’s Dynamic Rayzer in the 10-horse field.
The Martin series finale will be held next Saturday.
Colonial Downs presents a 10-race card Sunday at 1 p.m.
(Colonial Downs)