After being disqualified to fourth in his first Little Brown Jug heat as he attempted to claim the Pacing Triple Crown, millionaire Stay Hungry came back and battled widest of all in a four-horse stretch-bound sprint, getting a neck in front on the wire to take the first of two divisions of the $183,000 Somebeachsomewhere Bluegrass Three-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace, sponsored by the Somebeachsomewhere Syndicate and Hanover Shoe Farms, at The Red Mile on Sunday (Sept. 30).
Driver Doug McNair positioned Stay Hungry fifth, in behind stablemate American History, as Ideal Feeling paced on the lead to the quarter. Grand Teton soon vacated the rail from third and brushed for the lead following a :27.3 opening quarter.
Stay Hungry flushed American History for cover as Grand Teton continued a quick clip to the half in :54.1. American History progressed wide of horses and dragged Stay Hungry to within two lengths of the lead nearing the top of the stretch.
Following three-quarters in 1:21.2, American History took a short lead before Grand Teton reclaimed command to his inside. Stay Hungry, off cover, rallied through the centre of the track as Grand Teton fought for the lead to the inside, but could not outkick the winner to the line and settled for second in the 1:48.2 mile. Bounding Dragon snuck through a seam to the pylons for third and American History faded to fourth.
Winning his sixth race from 13 starts this season and his 12th from 22 overall, Stay Hungry, a colt by Somebeachsomewhere, has compiled $1,239,459 in earnings for owners Brad Grant and the Irwin Samelman Estate. Tony Alagna trains Stay Hungry, who paid $3.60 to win.
Thinkbig Dreambig brushed to the front after the quarter and led the rest of the way in progress to a 1:48.2 lifetime-best victory in the second Bluegrass division.
Im A Big Deal took the lead early as Nutcracker Sweet rushed from post 9 for the top heading to the quarter. Nutcracker Sweet swooped to command past the :27.2 opening quarter as his stablemate Thinkbig Dreambig gradually advanced towards the lead.
Passing the half in :54.2, Thinkbig Dreambig maintained his speed while under first-over pursuit from Hayden Hanover, who closed from fifth around the final turn. Hayden Hanover drew to within two lengths of the lead by three-quarters in 1:21.4 but continued to chase the son of Bettors Delight in the stretch before settling for second. Rush To Judgement, tracking from second-over, closed for third with Nutcracker Sweet holding fourth.
Trained by Jimmy Takter for owners Brixton Medical Inc., John Fielding, Goran Anderberg and Goran Falk, Thinkbig Dreambig, driven by Yannick Gingras, won his sixth race from 15 starts, earning $450,537. He paid $3.20 to win.
Grand Circuit action continues at The Red Mile on Thursday (Oct. 4) with divisions of the $350,000 (est.) International Stallion Stakes for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings. First post Thursday is 1:00 p.m. (EDT).
(The Red Mile)