Geocentric stays unbeaten with 8th straight score

LEXINGTON, Ky.— Brian Brown’s undefeated Sweet Lou filly Geocentric once again found the winner’s circle to tally her streak up to eight with a 1:49.3 victory going first over to win the second of three divisions for the $254,500 Perfect Sting International Stallion Stakes, for 2-year-old pacing fillies, on Friday afternoon (Oct. 6) at The Red Mile.

Starting from the pylon post, Geocentric raced fifth to a :27.3 first quarter, where Canigetalouploup rushed forward to take the lead from Genie Hanover. Canigetalouploup kept the tempo chugging through a :55.4 half and to three-quarters in 1:23.1 while Tim Tetrick moved methodically to the outside with Geocentric and gradually reeled in her rivals to the top of the stretch. Geocentric ranged to within a length of Canigetalouploup coming for home and downed her rival with ease through the straightaway to open two lengths to the finish with Genie Hanover holding third and Flawless taking fourth.

“I think we were in the right place at the right time [to buy her as a yearling],” Brian Brown said. “She was just a nice looking horse, she was correct in every way you could look at her and she fell in our price range.

“She probably had a little more work done in this last month than she has all year,” Brown also said. “Feet, we switched to razor pads for this start. It looked like it helped her, in her last start she looked a little knotty. I’ve tried to stay out of her way all year. She’s just been one of them horses that everybody says from day one you knew were good. Every time you trained her, just nothing went wrong with her.”

Geocentric has now earned $536,751 for owners Milton Leeman, Alan Keith, James Stambaugh and Joe Sbrocco. She returned $2.10 to win.

GEOCENTRIC REPLAY

My Girl EJ delivered in the first division off a bottled-up third-place finish in the She’s A Great Lady final to win as the 7-5 choice in 1:49.1.

The Ron Burke-trained daughter of Sweet Lou raced headstrong through a :27.3 first quarter until driver Dexter Dunn let her roll to the lead before a :55 half. My Girl EJ carried her speed through the final turn to three-quarters in 1:22.4 and stayed resolute through the lane to hold off the late charge from 9-5 second choice Blue Pacific by a half-length at the finish. Watching You closed for third and pocket-sitter Caviart Belle faded to fourth.

“She’s been good all her life… she’s had tough trips and tough luck, but she’s been good every start,” co-owner Howard Taylor said.

Winning her third race from nine starts, My Girl EJ has now earned $242,847 for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Elizabeth Novak and Howard Taylor. She paid $4.90 to win.

MY GIRL EJ REPLAY

Ron Burke had another winner in the Perfect Sting when Camerican (American Ideal) pulled pocket and powered past pacesetter Peace Talks to win in 1:50.3.

Grabbing control to a :27.3 first quarter, Camerican and driver Yannick Gringras yielded command up the backstretch as Peace Talks pushed out of third to seize the helm by a :55 half. Peace Talks slowed proceedings to three-quarters in 1:23.1 to brave for the sprint to the finish and engaged when Camerican pounced from her seat, but Camerican kept persistent pressure to the finish. Peace Talks caved by a neck to the 5-2 second choice with Asweetbeachhere taking third and Miraculous Deo closing for fourth.

Camerican races for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Lawrence Karr, M1 Stable LLC and Jack Piatt III. She won her third race from 10 starts and has now banked $187,612. She paid $7.56 to win.

CAMERICAN REPLAY

Each division of the $254,500 Perfect Sting International Stallion Stakes was sponsored by the Perfect Sting Syndicate, Brittany Farms and Val D’Or Farms.

Racing at The Red Mile resumes on Saturday (Oct. 7) with four divisions of the $348,000 International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old trotting fillies and four divisions of the $285,000 International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings. First-race post time at The Red Mile is 1 p.m. (EDT).

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile