Gone Astray Is On Fire

Pleasant Acres’ newest addition to the stallion barn – the veteran Gone Astray – continued his hot streak yesterday since arriving in Morriston: two runners, two more winners.

The son of Dixie Union saw late bloomer Cazman romp in the afternoon at Mahoning Valley, and Hard Astray do likewise in the evening at Mountaineer Casino and Resort.

Cazman, a 6-year-old gelding bred by James F. Webb, didn’t get to the races until he was five, and has wasted no time since, making 32 starts in less than two seasons and running up a record of 4-8-6. He broke a step slowly from the No. 2 post in yesterday’s six-furlong race, but Eddie Dominguez rushed him up on the inside and Cazman took the lead in a :22.73 quarter. From there on, it was just a case of how far he would win by, and it turned out to be 7 1/2 widening lengths, as the track announcer told his audience, “CAZMAN is THE MAN.” He paid $9.80 and earned a check for $8,100, increasing his two-year total to $47,767.

Hard Astray won for the second time this year under Gabriel Lagunes, going wire-to-wire at a flat mile over a muddy track as the even-money favorite. He opened up by five lengths in the stretch and was geared down to win by 3 1/4, collecting $4,524, and moving Gone Astray a step closer to $13 million in career progeny earnings, and to $2 million in 2021.