T C I triumphs by a nose over Karl at Red Mile

LEXINGTON, Ky.— Millionaire T C I (Cantab Hall) kept plugging down the center of the track after tempo-setter Karl as he held his ground at the inside in a fist fight to the finish that went by way of photo to T C I in the second of five harness racing divisions for the $341,000 International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Friday afternoon (Oct. 6) at The Red Mile.

T C I took the lead from post 5 to a :28.4 first quarter and gracefully relinquished control as 3-5 Karl brushed out of third to the backstretch to take the lead. The betting principles trotted one-two through a :56.4 half and to three-quarters in 1:24.4, where David Miller began looming off the pylons with T C I. Karl accelerated for home but T C I continued with wearing pressure through the final eighth of a mile, to which Karl responded but fell short at the beam by a scant nose. Southwind Metric gave chase behind the pair for third and Fly By took fourth.

“We were going pretty easy fractions and I knew it was going to be a sprint,” David Miller said. “My horse, he felt great. I moved him over and halfway through the stretch I pulled his plugs and he gave a little surge there. He likes to put his nose in front.”

T C I REPLAY

Ron Burke trains T C I, a winner in 10 of 11 starts and $1,081,370 in the bank for owners Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services and Weaver Bruscemi. He paid $4.16 to win.

Trainer Ake Svanstedt collected a pair of the five frosh trotting colt dashes beginning in the opening race with a 27-1 upset by Mr Bluebird (Six Pack) in 1:53.1.

With even-money favorite Smart Schooner breaking stride behind the gate, 6-5 second choice Hankins Hanover pushed for the lead alongside Wild Ticket to a :27.4 first quarter. Svanstedt settled Mr Bluebird into third and waited to ply his attack through dawdling middle half sectionals of :57 and 1:26.1. Mr Bluebird took flight in the sprint for home and slid to command with ease to score by 1-1/4 lengths over Wild Ticket with Hankins Hanover fading to third and Lindy’s Coyotito taking fourth.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” co-owner Jeff Gural said of Mr Bluebird’s upset. “Ake said in Florida this was his best colt, and then when we came north the horse wasn’t good. He started to get better, last week he raced better and I thought maybe [he’d improve]. Truthfully, I thought this was the least likely horse [of mine] to win.”

MR BLUEBIRD REPLAY

Mr Bluebird bagged his second win from seven tries and added to a bankroll now worth $56,444 for owners Ake Svanstedt Inc., Little E LLC and Torbjorn Swahn Inc. The colt paid $56.76 to win.

Svanstedt’s other victory was not at as big of balloons or as with ease, but Bryant Bros S (Varenne) gamely fended off his challengers to take the third division in 1:54.2.

Away second through a :28.1 first quarter, Svanstedt circled Bryant Bros S to the lead before a :57.1 half. He then snagged a breather to three-quarters in 1:27 as 7-5 favorite Ordained plugged uncovered towards the top. Ordained kept pushing forward through the stretch but Bryant Bros S kept battling back to win by a nose. Flight Landing grabbed third and Magic Hill finished fourth.

“He’s a big horse,” owner Perry Soderberg said. “When he came over from Sweden, we bought him in Sweden, he was kind of skinny. He grew quite a bit, but we’re taking our time with him. He’s not ready 100 percent I don’t think. Most likely he has the Kindergarten and Valley Victory if he’s still doing well. I think he’s going to be very good next year if we’re lucky.”

BRYANT BROS S REPLAY

Bryant Bros S broke his maiden in his seventh try and has now earned $68,257 for owner Soderberg Bloodstock LLC. He paid $6.42 to win.

Marcus Melander trainee Security Protected (Father Patrick) rebounded off a loss in the Mohawk Million with a resounding win in 1:52.4 to win in the fourth division.

Driver Tim Tetrick moved Security Protected out of third after a :28.2 first quarter to take the lead from 15-1 shot Show Me past a :56 half. The remainder of the mile became an exhibition for Security Protected as he sprinted for home off three-quarters in 1:25.2 to open three lengths on Show Me to the finish, who held second from even-money favorite Winter Soldier as he levelled off from a first-over bid in third.

“He’s been racing good all year to be honest, and then we took a shot in [the Mohawk Million, but] were parked on the outside there… it was a tough trip for him,” Marcus Melander said. “He hasn’t raced many races on big tracks, so [1:]52.4 today, I was very impressed with that.”

SECURITY PROTECTED REPLAY

Security Protected competes for owners Howard Taylor, Brad Grant and Order By Stable AB. The colt won his fourth race from eight starts and has accrued $243,330 in earnings. Off the second choice in the betting, he paid $7.32 to win.

Pick Pocket (Walner) pulled back-to-back upsets after a double-digit win in the Bluegrass to land another double-digit score in the final International Stallion Stake dash for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

Driver Anthony MacDonald planted Pick Pocket on the point to a :28 first quarter and found himself in the pocket as Mars Hill wanted the lead up the backside. Mars Hill cleared control out of third by a :56.1 half and strolled through the final turn while Situationship powered along the rim out of fifth. By three-quarters in 1:25.1, Mars Hill tried to quicken with the challenge from Situationship, but Situationship slid by with more steam. Though MacDonald had a seam to veer off the pylons and to the center of the course to give Pick Pocket open road. He responded and collared Situationship at the beam by a neck in 1:53.1 with Mars Hill third and Thinker Monkey fourth.

“He got a great trip in behind a horse that looked a little vulnerable,” Anthony MacDonald said. “I was able to sneak my way out and he punched through.”

PICK POCKET REPLAY

Eric Patalan trains Pick Pocket for owners TheStable Pick Pocket Group and Hutchison Harness LLC. He won his fourth race from 10 starts, has now earned $155,860 and paid $22.94 to win.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile