Perfect Sting, the top-ranked horse in the
Trot Magazine Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book, took another strong step toward his sophomore season with a 1:52.3 qualifying win on Friday (April 30) at The Meadowlands.
After a decisive, pillar-to-post 1:52.2 effort off the shelf last Saturday, David Miller opted to race Perfect Sting from the pocket in his second qualifier, yielding to Pirate Hanover (Andy McCarthy) through a tepid :57.3 half. The son of champions Always B Miki and Shebestingin made his move at the end of a :27 third split, headed Pirate Hanover at the eighth pole, and won going away by 1-3/4 lengths for trainer Joe Holloway and the partnership of Brittany Farms and Val D Or Farms.
“She’s made a believer out of me,” said her trainer Brett Pelling.
And everyone else for that matter.
Sent to the gate as the 3-5 favourite, driver Todd McCarthy asked for speed from Alexa Skye from post eight in the 10-horse field, and speed is what he got, as after Dbldelitebrigade N led at the quarter, McCarthy moved his four-year-old mare to the top well before the three-eighths.
The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Pirouette Hanover led by 1-1/2 lengths at the half despite a rated fraction of :28.4. Then, Alexa Skye sprinted the third panel in :26.4 to extend her lead to 3-1/2 at three-quarters.
Alexa Skye came to Yonkers Raceway with four straight victories and left having made it five in-a-row, taking Thursday night s featured $30,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace in impressive fashion. The 4-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere stopped the teletimer in 1:52 flat.
Driven by Todd McCarthy, Alexa Skye left quickly from post three and cleared Feelin Red Hot (George Brennan) for the lead prior to the :27.4 opening quarter. Alexa Skye, who was the 8-5 second choice, was well-rated to the half, posting that fraction in :56.3, and then picked up the tempo to 1:24.2 at three-quarters as New Zealand imports Seaswift Joy (Andrew McCarthy) and Bettors Heart (Jason Bartlett) began to advance first-up and second-over, respectively.
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Freehold Raceway hosted a trio of Preferred Handicaps on Saturday - two for pacers, one for trotters. All three saw a horse come from well behind to win.
In the Preferred Handicap trot, Kinda Lucky Lindy rallied from last to win. He was well behind early, and then moved three-wide as they moved up the backstretch the final time. At the top of the stretch, he continued his wide push, and got by favoured Gettin Messi and pace-stalker Deo for the win.
For Kinda Lucky Lindy, that s his third win of the year, pushing his earnings for the season past the $35,000 mark. He s owned by Brian and Ira Wallach, trained by Daniel Renaud, and driven by Dan Dube. He trotted the mile over a good track in 1:59.1.