Jul 21, 2015 | Racing
You’d be hard-pressed to find a sharper pacing mare right now than Request For Parole, who won the $24,000 distaff feature Friday night, July 17th, at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, tallying in 1:49.2 to reduce her lifetime mark of 1:50, which she had achieved at The Meadowlands just seven days prior.
Driver Anthony Napolitano drew the assignment behind the 5YO daughter of Badlands Hanover from trainer Ron Burke, and she scooted away quickly from the middle of the nine-horse field to reach the quarter in 26.1, only to let Gallie Bythe Beach, parked behind her early, go to the top at the 3/8, before a sapping half-mile clocking of 53.3.
Scandalicious came strongly first-up down the backstretch and had reached the leader just past the 1:20.4 3.4s, before going to the lead late on the turn. For a moment it looked like Request For Parole might be locked in jail behind the tiring pacesetter as the first-over might get away, but the top three had formed a breakaway trio, and “ANap” was able to swing his mare two- and three-wide behind the new leader, picking her up easily at midstretch to win by 2 3/4 lengths.
Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC acquired the fast mare at the end of May, and now they have a pacer who looks like a possible national fast-class performer.
Aug 12, 2013 | Racing
August 7, 2013
Gallie Bythe Beach continued her impressive career-opening winning streak with a hard-fought victory to highlight Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action on Wednesday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. There were four Sire Stakes races held for 2-year-old fillies on the pace, with purses ranging from $68,333 to $68,734.
Gallie Bythe Beach (Somebeachsomewhere-Galleria), who came into Wednesday night’s action with wins in each of her first four lifetime starts, took to the front end around the first turn and was still there at the end by a head after a tough stretch battle. John Campbell drove Gallie Bythe Beach, the 1-5 favorite, for Jim Campbell as the filly won in 1:52:4. Southwind Silence made it close late with a furious inside rally, while Beach Body finished third.
In other Sire Stakes action, Stucklikeglue (Dragon Again-Ruth Plumsted) picked up a memorable maiden victory with a pylon-skimming ride to zip by the leaders late. Matt Kakaley did the driving for trainer Ron Burke, as Stucklikeglue turned her sixth lifetime start into her first career win by a half-length in 1:53:1 at 7-1. Sister Stroll finished second while 6-5 favorite Rusty’s Bliss faded to third after leading most of the way.
Extra Desire (Art Official-R Burning Desire) continued the trend of maidens surprising in the Sire Stakes with a late-kicking victory in the second division at 12-1. Tyler Buter was in the bike for trainer Paul Kennedy as Extra Desire scored in her third career start in 1:52:4. Bahama Blue finished second while One Jazzy Lady picked up the show. The 4-5 favorite Put On A Display coughed up the lead late and finished fifth.
Tyra (McArdle-Perrilla) used front-pacing speed to capture the final division comfortably by 2 ¾ lengths in 1:52:4. With Tim Tetrick in the bike for trainer Joann Looney-King, Tyra, the 8-5 second choice, went all the way on the front end for her third victory in just four career races. 6-5 favorite Also Encouraging had to settle for best of the rest while Quick Thrill came on for third.