Four-year-olds conclude Corbin Maturity in $70,000 finals

The Red Mile in Lexington, KY was the scene Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 25) for four $70,000 finals of the Corbin Maturity Series for four-year-old harness racing trotters and pacers.

The finals started off in the 1^st race for four-year-old trotting mares.

Beltassima (Trixton) and driver Andy McCarthy left fastest of all and was able to cut the entire mile with fractions of :29, :57.3 and 1:26.3 with no one making a move on the outside.

As they came down the stretch, the pocket sitting Awesome Trix (Tony Hall) went after the leader but ended up a neck short at the wire with Beltassima winning in 1:54.2. Jazzy Jules (Christian Lind) was third.

BELTASSIMA REPLAY

For Beltassima, it was her second straight win and seventh triumph in eight starts this season for trainer Tony Alagna and Crawford Farms, Inc. of New York. She went off as the 1/9 wagering favorite and paid $2.10 to win.

The 2^nd race featured the Corbin Maturity Series Final for four-year-old pacing mares and in an upset, Ahoy (Captaintreacherous) and driver Yannick Gingras, won at odds of 11-1.

Gingras sent Ahoy right to the front with A Special Moment (Tony Hall) grabbing the two-hole trip by the first quarter in :27.4.

Race favorite Classicist (Andy McCarthy) then came first-over and pressured Ahoy to the half mile in :54.3 and was then able to clear to the lead going to the three-quarters in 1:21.3.

Then in the stretch, Ahoy came back to put away Classicist and then hold off a late charge by Awesome Hill (Andy Miller) to win by a neck in 1:50.3. Classicist was third.

AHOY REPLAY

For Ahoy, who paid $25.60 to win, it was a lifetime mark and her eighth triumph of the year. She is trained by Ron Burke and is owned by the Burke Racing Stable, LLC, Weaver Bruscemi, LLC and Frank Canzone.

Driver Yannick Gingras made it right back to the winner’s circle in the 3^rd race final for four-year-old trotting horses with Kildare King (Trixton).

Flemsteen (Dexter Dunn) was first on the lead by the opening quarter mile in :27.4 with Lockbox (Devon Tharps) in the pocket seat and Kildare King challenging on the outside.

Kildare King made it to the lead for Gingras and they led to the half in :54.2 with race favorite Venerate (Andy Miller) charging first-over and then taking the lead by the backstretch and through the three-quarters in 1:21.3.

At the top of the stretch Venerate still had the lead but coming down the stretch Kildare King looked them in the eye and went on by to win by half a length in 1:50.1. Flemsteen was third.

KILDARE KING REPLAY

It was a lifetime mark and the 11^th win on the year for Kildare King. She is trained by Chris Beaver for owner and breeder Robert Goodman of Kentucky. She paid $5.06 to win.

The 4^th race was the last final for four-year-old horses and saw race favorite Komodo Beach (Somebeachsomewhere) with Andy McCarthy in the sulky score the fastest mile of the afternoon.

The race favorite, Komodo Beach took the early lead to the quarter in :27.3 with Goldie’s Legacy (Yannick Gingras) already charging on the outside to take the lead away.

Goldie’s Legacy then led to the half mile in :54.1 and then McCarthy pulled the pocked in the backstretch and pressed Goldie’s Legacy to the three-quarters in 1:21.4.

As they started down the stretch Komodo Beach held a slim lead and was able to hold off Goldie’s Legacy to win by a half a length in 1:49.3. Mad Man Hill (Andy Miller) was third.

KOMODO BEACH REPLAY

For Komodo Beach, it was his second straight win and fifth on the season for trainer Noel Daley and the Morrison Racing Stables. He paid $2.68 to win.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink