The Red Mile went out with a bang on the final card of the early portion of the 2008 meet. Several impressive performances were turned in by three-year-olds competing in the John Simpson Memorial Stakes on the Thursday night card.
Pasta Lavista, a daughter of Western Hanover-Mattaroni, avenged her first lifetime defeat that she suffered in last week’s Nadia Lobell final, with an authoritative score in a $24,718 Simpson division in a new lifetime mark, 1:50.4. Driver Mike Lachance fired the filly out off the wings and released the lead up the backstretch to Lightning Glory (Andrew McCarthy) briefly before retaking and going down the pike to win easily by four lengths.
Pasta Lavista is trained by Eric Reese for the White Creek Stable Inc. The filly has now won eight times in nine career starts with earnings over $112,000. Lightning Glory held the place spot, while the Dan Shetler trained-driven Heavenly Good rallied for third.
The other two filly pacing divisions were taken by Natalie (Ron Pierce), a homebred daughter of Jennas Beach Boy for owner-trainer Jack Gray Jr., and Sand Pleasure (Ricky Macomber Jr.), a daughter of Cambest from the barn of trainer Ross Croghan. Both fillies were victorious with a winning time of 1:51.4.
KYSS Champion Body Surfing, a daughter of Like A Prayer-Donna Eligancia, recorded her fifth consecutive victory in taking the lone $28,951 Simpson Division for three-year-old filly trotters. Driver Ron Pierce moved the 2-5 favorite first over as the field entered the final turn and drew even with a very stubborn Along The Way (Mike Lachance) as they turned for home. Body Surfing would eventually wear down Along The Way by ¾ of a length. Parcc Side (Andrew McCarthy) followed the second-over cover to garner the show spot. Body Surfing is trained locally by Kevin Thomas and owned by the Bulletproof Enterprises.
Trainer Ron Gurfein displayed why he is known as the ‘Trotting Guru,’ with wins in both of the $33,499 Simpson divisions for colt and gelding trotters. Gurfein took the first division with the 6-5 favorite and son of Self Possessed, Kajan Kooker, in a new lifetime mark of 1:54.3. Driver Mike Lachance left hard and never looked back reporting home a winner by three lengths.
Gurfein’s victor in the second division was not quite as obvious, as Stand Guard and driver Andrew McCarthy pulled off a shocking upset at odds of 67-1, over his stablemate and 2-5 favorite, Gallantly (Mike Lachance). Stand Guard was tucked away third along the inside when Cloud Casino (Ron Pierce) made a break just past the half mile marker on the front-end. Stand Guard inherited the pocket behind another heavy longshot, Nautical Notion (Jan Johnson). McCarthy pulled the son of Conway Hall at the top of the lane and trotted right by to pick up his fourth career victory in a new lifetime mark, 1:54.4.
Mike Lachance narrowly missed the win, only a head back in second with the other Gurfein trainee, Gallantly. Nautical Notion held the show spot.
The featured $55,188 Simpson division for colt and gelding pacers allowed Southwestern Dream, the KYSS runner-up, to turn the tables on KYSS Champion, Blue Claw. Dan Shetler drove the gelded son of Cambest using a first-over journey, and he responded by opening up very similarly at the top of the stretch as he had in the $300,000 KYSS final. However, this time Blue Claw was pinned in for an extended period of time, and Southwestern Dream was long gone when he finally saw daylight.
Southwestern Dream is trained by Marie Ortolan for the Reve Avec Moi Dreamwithme. He recorded his seventh win of the season, equaling his lifetime mark in 1:51 and increasing his seasonal earnings to over $111,000. Blue Claw (Mike Lachance) was able to manage the place position, while Vette Man (Brandon Simpson) held on for third.
Grand Circuit racing begins Tuesday at The Red Mile with a post time of 12:30 p.m.
(With files from The Red Mile)