Southwind Frank strolls in ‘Crown’ elimination

 

Taking the lead and setting an opening quarter in :28.2, Southwind Frank led Milligan's School, Will Take Charge, and Deep Impact around the first turn. He was unchallenged when passing the half in :58.3, which was when Dupree initiated the two-wide flow and supplied cover to Marion Marauder.

 

Southwind Frank extended his lead to four lengths around the far turn, due in part to Milligan's School becoming rough gaited in second. With Milligan's School faltering, Will Take Charge pulled to the outside from third and circled by into the second spot as Southwind Frank passed the third panel in 1:27.1.

 

Will Take Charge was the lone threat to Southwind Frank, who was under wraps in the stretch regardless. Marion Marauder fanned around Dupree and rallied late in the stretch with Milligan's School, who recovered from his gait issues around the turn. Southwind Frank led to the wire about two and a half lengths clear of Marion Marauder sniping second from Milligan's School, with Will Take Charge claiming fourth.

 

Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Our Horse Cents Stable, and Jerry and Theresa Silva Stables, Southwind Frank collected his 10th win in 11 starts this year, pushing his career earnings to $552,591. He paid $2.40 to win, and was driven by Yannick Gingras. The Muscle Hill colt, out of the Cantab Hall mare Flawless Lindy, was bred by Southwind Farm.

 

"He was good here at Mohawk about a month ago [in the $373,000 William Wellwood Memorial], but Ronnie [Burke] thought he was getting a little tired," Yannick Gingras said. "He gave him a few weeks off and freshened him up before the second week of Lexington. He was vicious there last week, and he was just as good here tonight. He completely wrapped up; he could not have done this any easier."

 

 

 

With the late scratch of Southern Cross, Jimmy Takter's Lagerfeld and Bob McIntosh's Tony Soprano received byes into the final next week, Oct. 24. The post positions for the $600,000 final were drawn after the elimination, with Andovers Choice not qualifying due to finishing ninth in the elimination. Here are the posts for the final:

 

 

1-Muscles For Life-Doug McNair-Gregg McNair

 

2-Deep Impact-Steve Condren-Bradley Maxwell

 

3-Marion Marauder-Scott Zeron-Michael Keeling

 

4-Sliding Home-John Campbell-Jonas Czernyson

 

5-Southwind Frank-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke

 

6-Lagerfeld-Johnny Takter-Jimmy Takter

 

7-Tony Soprano-John Campbell-Robert McIntosh

 

8-Dupree-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt

 

9-Milligan's School-Andy Miller-Julie Miller

 

10-Will Take Charge-Paul MacDonell-John Bax

 

AE-Andovers Choice-Sylvain Filion-Dany Fontaine