- Holiday Handicap (CT) — Fearsome, trainer Hugh McMahon, owner Winners Circle Partners X
- Eleanor Casey Memorial S. (CT) — Practical Ideas, trainer C. Allen Johnson, owner C. Allen Johnson, bred in West Virginia by Rene Moore and Naylee Farm[/boxify]
We raised several questions on Friday for the weekend’s mid-Atlantic racing to answer. Specifically:
- Can Henny’s Princess lock in her second stake win of the year in the Eleanor Casey at Charles Town? And what about a pair of lightly raced horses, Practical Ideas (who lost by just a neck to Henny’s Princess last out) and flashy debut winner Windsor’s Punch?
- No. Sent off at even money, Henny’s Princess stalked the pace in second for for a half-mile before fading to fourth. It was a much happier outcome for Practical Ideas, though, who sped to the early lead and never looked back en route to a six-length win. Windsor’s Punch ended up last.
- Can Lucy’s Bob Boy post his 17th career victory at Charles Town?
- No. Lucy’s Bob Boy was scratched. Odds-on Fearsome made all the running in the Holiday Handicap, winning the 4 1/2 furlong affair by a length in 51.13.
- In Laurel’s allowance feature, can Maryland Million Starter Handicap winner Tooth N Claw get back on track after two dismal outings?
- No. Tooth N Claw was never much involved, dropping into last early and rallying much too late to be a factor; he finished eighth. Senseofentitlement, 5-1, got the money by a length, while favored Twelve Stone saw his three-race streak of finishing second snapped — he came in fourth, beaten two noses for second.
- Will Parx Racing actually manage to race this weekend?
- No. The track has now canceled seven straight after bailing on both Saturday and Sunday.
- Can Noctivagant, Queen Anna, or Italian Nany win Saturday’s fifth at Penn National?
- Yes. Italian Nany rated two wide with the pace of Queen Anna, took over before the horses had traveled a half-mile, kicked clear and had enough to hold off the late rally of Angelic Lioness. That gives the Stephanie Beattie-trained daughter of Straight Man six wins on the year, a number exceeded by just 50 horses nationwide (out of around 58,000 starters). She sports a 15-6-2-2 record this year with earnings of nearly $85,000.
(Featured image is of Bens Kin, a three year-old filly by Dance With Ravens who is a half-sister to stakes star Ben’s Cat. She made her career debut at Laurel on Saturday, finishing sixth of nine in maiden race. She’s bred, owned, and trained by King Leatherbury.)
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