With $585,000 at stake, Ginger And Fred is going to have to dance as fast as she can.
The freshman pacer with the Hollywood name has put every foot right thus far. Apart from her first baby race, where she finished fifth, Ginger And Fred has been no worse than second in nine starts, earning over $150,000 for conditioner Kevin Lare and owners Howard Taylor, Robert Feldman, Edwin Gold, and Jerry Silva.
Until she crossed the border earlier this month, Ginger And Fred had done all of her racing on five-eighths mile tracks in Pennsylvania, but if her 13-length waltz to victory in an October 10 qualifier at Mohawk is any indication, she likes the feel of the bigger oval. She certainly stepped out smartly last weekend in her elimination for the Three Diamonds at Woodbine, beaten only by a nose by Special Sweetheart in 1:53.4.
In Saturday night's Three Diamonds stakes for two-year-old pacing lasses, however, the daughter of Real Artist--Graceful Motion will face the biggest challenge of her brief lifetime. Not only will she face Special Sweetheart again, but she'll also be up against the well-regarded West Of L A, Carl Jamieson's Break The News, and Western Ideal daughter Twist N Clout, all of whom have banked $150,000 or more in stakes company.
"She's an exceptional mare," says Lare. "We really got lucky with her. When they did the pre-purchase on her at New Bolton, they said she looked like a developed four-year-old. She's really good and solid, and she shows up to race every time."
Lare says driver Tim Tetrick "took most of the blame for her losing last week. He just loves this filly, and he was trying to prove a point by coming first over. When she cleared she just kind of fell asleep. I have a feeling you'll see a whole different drive from him this week."
Though Lare didn't get to select Ginger And Fred's post position for the Three Diamonds final, the spot she drew, Post 4, was what he had hoped for anyway. "But there's nine other mares in there who all earned the right to race this weekend. We've got a nice filly, but nothing's for sure in racing."
Still, as the 2-1 morning line favourite, Ginger And Fred's footwork will be one to watch. The Three Diamonds, one of the fantastic Fall Four stakes for two-year-olds this Saturday, October 25 at Woodbine, goes off as Race 5, post time 9:00 p.m.
To view the entries, click here.
(WEG)