The month between September 21 and October 20 was over the moon as 19 graduates of South Carolina farms and training centers breaking programs entered the winner's circle following stakes races.

 

Three accomplished this feat on September 22. In a hard fought battle, Firenze Fire captured the Grade 3 Gallant Bob S. at PARX. Head to head throughout, Firenze Fire prevailed by a head. This colt received his early lessons at Travis Durr's Webb Carroll Training Center in St. Matthews, SC.

 

In Ohio on that day, Heavenhasmynikki was last early on before circling the field from the outside to win by a comfortable 2 lengths in the Diana S. at Thistledown. This filly is also a product of Durr's program.

 

Battleground Star, who came up through the Shuler Stables operation in Orangeburg County, SC, pressed the pace early on in the Rachel Turn's S. at Charles Town. At the eighth pole, she showed that she was clearly best drawing off to a 5 ½ length victory.

 

On September 23 at Belmont Park, Black Tide broke on top at the start and had the field give a futile chase around the track. In front by 4 ½ lengths after a half-mile, he coasted home being 1 ¼ lengths in front at the wire. Black Tide is a Webb Carroll Training Center grad.

 

The hard knocking Sonny Inspired has run in 54 races recording 11 wins and 17 more placings. On September 29, he stalked the leader in the Find S. at Laurel Park before putting his head in front at the top of the stretch. In a hard fought battle to the wire, Sonny Inspired stuck his neck out to get the win. Sonny Inspired learned his early lessons at the McCutchen Training Center in Kingstree, SC.

 

Dr. Blarney captured his sixth race in a row on September 29 in the DTHA Governors Day H. at Delaware Park. Second until the stretch run, he faced challengers in the race to the finish line but would not be denied winning by ¾'s of a length. This Webb Carroll Training Center grad has recorded 17 victories in 24 career starts..

 

On the next day, another former Travis Durr student, Marquee Miss was the overwhelming favorite in the Flashy Lady S. at Remington Park. She showed she deserved the honor romping home 5 ¼ lengths the best.

 

At historic Keeneland Racecourse on October 5, Franklin "Goree" Smith's Elloree Training Center graduate Promises Fulfilled did fulfill his promise in the Phoenix S.- G2. He broke on top and while pressured throughout, reached the finish line first by a head.

Fahan Mura, who has campaigned across the country during her career, captured the Swingtime S. at Santa Anita on October 7. She now has 6 wins in 8 starts in 2018 including two stakes victories. In the Swingtime S., this former Elloree Training Center pupil led wire to wire winning by ¾'s of a length.

 

A third "Goree" Smith former student, Ace of Aces captured her third race in a row - the latest two being stakes races on October 9. Mid pack early on, she angled to the outside in the stretch and proved best passing under the wire a ½ length in front in the Ambassador S. at Indiana Grand.

 

The former Webb Carroll Training Center trainee, Saint Alfred, trailed the field the opening half-mile in the Back Bay H. at Finger Lakes also on October 9. He came five wide into the stretch and then proved much the best drawing off to a 7 ½ length victory.

 

Concrete Rose, who came up through Cary Frommer's program in Aiken, SC, improved her record to two for two in the Jessamine S.-G2 at Keeneland on October 10. In this grass test for two-year-old fillies, Concrete Rose tracked the leaders to the 3/16's pole before taking the lead and hitting the wire 3 lengths in front.

 

T Rex Express, another graduate of the Shuler Stables program, quickly took the lead in the West Virginia Breeders' Classic Distaff S. on October 13 at Charles Town. She opened up by 6 ½ lengths at one point and coasted home a 2 ½ length winner as the favorite.

 

Hembree, who came up under the watchful eye of Travis Durr, was seventh after the opening half-mile in the Nearctic S.-G2 at Woodbine on October 13. Angling to the outside at the top of the stretch, he put in a tremendous rally to hit the wire a neck in front.

 

Battleground Star, who captured the Rachel's Turn on September 22, came right back to prove best in the Nutrition Breeders' Classic S. at Charles Town on October 13. As the solid favorite, she sat right behind the leader early on before taking control in the stretch and coasting home a 2 length winner. This Shuler Stables former pupil improved her record to 3 wins in 3 lifetime starts - two being in stakes.

 

Two more products of Travis Durr's program captured stakes on October 20. At Belmont Park, Runaway Lute proved best in the Hudson H. for New York-breds. He took the lead after the opening quarter-mile and maintained his advantage through the lane winning by ¾'s of a length. At Laurel Park that day, Barin came from near the back of the pack in the Md. Million Turf Starter H. He came through traffic and in a determined effort, got up proving best by a neck.

 

My Star Potential showed she has a lot of potential in the Md. Million Lassie S. at Laurel Park on October 20. The former Cary Frommer student was bumped and a step slow out of the gate. She then quickly went to the front opening up by 4 ½ lengths in the stretch. She came home a 1 ½ length winner. She has two wins and a second in three lifetime starts.