Dismissed at 9-1, Gingras Beach used a confident first-over move to notch his initial stakes victory in Saturday’s $70,900 Keystone Classic at The Meadows. Starship captured the other division in the event for two-year-old colt and gelding pacers.
Gingras Beach had only three overnight races on his card and was third down the backside behind 3-5 favourite Patriot Nation. But Tony Hall didn’t hesitate to send the son of Somebeachsomewhere-Ginger Shark after Patriot Nation without cover.
“I had confidence in this colt,” Hall said. “He felt great, and it looked like the leader was starting to press into the last turn. So I figured I would get him out and get him in motion. He was strong the whole back half.”
Gingras Beach roared past Patriot Nation and scored in 1:53.2, 2 lengths better than All Hands On Deck. Complete Kaos completed the ticket. Ron Burke trains Gingras Beach for Burke Racing Stable, Yannick Gingras, J&T Silva-Purnel&Libby and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. It was one of four wins for Hall on the 14-race program.
Starship took advantage of an early break by chief rival Tru Lou to back down the second quarter to 29.2. The son of Captaintreacherous-Lifetime Star was unchallenged from there, scoring in 1:53.2 for trainer Kevin Lare and owner Frank Chick. Warrawee Veloce was second, 1-1/2 lengths back, with Lyons Music third.
“Kevin called me a couple hours ago and told me the horse’s tendencies,” said winning driver Dan Rawlings. “He said, ‘he’s not the greatest-gaited horse, but don’t think something’s wrong with him; go forward and you’ll be happy with him.’ He was right.”
Speaking of first stakes victories, Drama Act and Ginger Tree Carey collected their first-ever stakes scores in Saturday’s co-feature. The other division went to Ashtini.
Injury and illness had limited Drama Act to a pair of overnight events — both victories.
“She had an abscess in her foot that caused some time off,” said Krista Harmon, who conditions the homebred daughter of Well Said-Lounge Act for The OK Corral. “Then, when she was ready to qualify, she got sick a couple times. What’s her upside? I’m not sure we’ve hit bottom with her yet.”
The team’s patience paid off Saturday, as Drama Act overcame a parked-out 26.4 opening panel and triumphed for Jason Merriman in 1:52.2, 3-3/4 lengths better than Alexa Skye. Dance Club earned show.
Trainer Sam Beegle has selected Ginger Tree Carey’s stakes engagements judiciously because of her diminutive stature.
“She’s only the size of a deer, and she’s a June foal,” Beegle said. “She had a little issue back in May, and we didn’t rush her. She’s done everything we asked her to do. She still has the Simpson and the Liberty Bell, and she has everything next year.”
The daughter of Sweet Lou-Ideal Weather showed a big heart in overtaking the leader, The Party’s Rockin, late and defeating her by 1/2 length in 1:53.1 Speaking Of Coffee finished third.
Ginger Tree Ventures, Henlopen Stable, Neil Chesen and Beegle campaign Ginger Tree Carey.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Monday when the card features a trio of rich wagering opportunities: a $5,000 total-pool guarantee in the Pick 4 (races 2-6); a $1,065.24 carryover in the Pick 5 (races 2-7), and a $1,477.49 carryover in the final-race Super Hi-5. First post is 1:05 p.m.
(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)