Ragtime Red capitalized on chaos nearing the half to win her fifth straight race as she went back-to-back in the $25,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at Harrington Raceway.
She drew the far outside post eight, so Allan Davis reversed the filly's usual tactics and brought her back to seventh as A Rocknroll Bus (Vince Copeland) led to the quarter in :28.1. A Rocknroll Bus was then pocketed by favourite Incaseyoudidntknow (Jim Morand), who led until she nearly fell when making an equipment-related break approaching the half-mile in :57.2 and scattered the field.
Lofty Treasure (Pat Berry) inherited the lead, and Ragtime Red, who had been advancing wide from the back, weaved through traffic and found her way into the pocket to three-quarters in 1:26.2. Lofty Treasure led into the stretch but grew weary late, and Ragtime Red soared in the final strides to get up by a nose for the 1:54.3 victory. Melody Hanover (Ross Wolfenden) was third.
Ragtime Red, a Getitoffyourchest-Red High Heels filly, recorded her 14th career win in 21 attempts for owner-breeder David Banks. She made her first start at Harrington Raceway last week and dethroned Incaseyoudidntknow in the top class. Don Brittingham trains the two-time Maryland Sire Stakes champion, who has now earned $302,524. The filly paid $21.40 to win.
It was a successful day for the Stafford brothers, as driver Art Stafford Jr. scored five victories and trained Andrew Stafford tripled on the 14-race program. The pair teamed up to take the first two races of the day with Win With Lynnly ($3.20) and Kissin Joe ($2.40), then won the 12th race with Barbados Babe ($3). Art Stafford also scored in the 11th race with Rockinwithdave ($2.20) and the 13th with Warrens Charm ($2.10).
Andrew Stafford went three-for-three on the card and has now won 33 races this season at a strike rate of 26.4 per cent. The Harrington, De. resident trains New York Sire Stakes star Liberty Style, who won her series championship on Sept. 6. Art Stafford Jr. improved his seasonal win total to 35 and is winning at a 16.6 per cent clip.
(Harrington Raceway & Standardbred Canada)