Racing Across the Nation
Between August 22 and August 29, nine horses that went through the breaking process at South Carolina training centers entered the winner’s circle after crossing the finish line first in Stakes races.
On August 22, Safe Conduct, who learned his early lessons from Donna Freyer at her Custom Care Equine program in Camden, SC, proved best in the prestigious Queen’s Plate Stakes at Woodbine. This is Canada’s version of the Kentucky Derby for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds. Safe Conduct stalked the pace while 4 wide. He led the field into the stretch and in a hard, determined drive, reached the wire first winning by a head.
On the same day south of the border in Puerto Rico, Luna Fortis captured the Clasico Roberto Clemente Stakes-G3 at Camarero Race Track. Luna Fortis raced midpack for the first half of the 1 1/16 miles race. She took control at the ¼ pole and drove to a 1 ¾ length victory. This mare is a product of Brad Stauffer and Ron Stevens’ Legacy Stable in Aiken, SC.
Precious broke on top at the start and never looked back in the Mrs. Penny Stakes at PARX on August 23. Racing comfortably into the stretch, Precious fended off a serious challenge at the 1/8th pole and reached the finish line 1 ¼ lengths in front. Randy and Kala Rentz developed Precious for her racing career at their training center in Ehrhardt, SC.
Another one of the Rentz’s protégés, Beren, went wire-to-wire in the PARX Summer Sprint Stakes on August 24. Beren was challenged at the ¼ pole, pushed this challenge back and drew off in the stretch winning by 6 ½ widening lengths. This colt has 6 lifetime wins including 4 Stakes victories.
Shuler Stables graduates had a big night at Charles Town on August 27. Star of Night, the 1-5 favorite in the Sadie Hawkins S. showed why she deserved this backing. This filly was in the middle of the field early on. As they approached the ¼ pole, Star of Night began her bid gaining the lead midstretch before drawing off to a 1 ¼ length victory. During her career, Star of Night has won 9 of her 11 lifetime starts finishing 2nd the other 2 races. She has captured 4 Stakes.
Maud’dib, also a former Shuler Stables student, was fifth early on before advancing towards the leaders in upper stretch. In a hard fought battle, Maud’dib would not be denied in this his Stakes debut winning by a neck in the Frank Gall Memorial Stakes. This gelding has now won all 7 of his lifetime starts.
Art Collector, a graduate of Travis Durr’s Webb Carroll Training Center, notched his second Stakes win in a row on August 27 proving best in the Charles Town Classic-G2. In his previous start, Art Collector won the Alydar Stakes at Saratoga on August 6. Stalking the pace early on, this 4-year-old colt took the lead at the top of the stretch and began to draw away inside the 1/8th pole reaching the finish line 1 ½ lengths clear of the field.
On the same day, another Durr protégé, November Rein, outshined her fellow New York-breds in the Seeking the Ante Stakes at Saratoga. November Rein had a rocky start stumbling out of the gate but quickly recovered taking the lead and stayed in front throughout the race crossing the finish line 1 ¾ lengths in front. This 2-year-old filly has won 2 of her 3 lifetime starts.
The veteran, Amatteroftime, showed his superiority in the Charles Hesse III Handicap at Monmouth Park on August 29. Stalking the leader while second for the opening ¾’s of a mile, Amatteroftime took command in upper stretch and drew clear approaching the wire winning by 4 ¾ lengths. This 6-year-old gelding began his training at the Webb Carroll Training Center.
