Pleasant Acres triples becoming a habit

IT’S BECOMING A HABIT – On July 16, Neolithic, Ride On Curlin and Gone Astray scored a racing triple for Pleasant Acres stallions, and just 13 days later, the same three have done it again – with three different horses.

RIDE ON CURLIN – Cowboy at Heart contributed to yesterday’s triple at Charles Town by turning in the best performance of his 18-race career. The 4-year-old gelding bred by Stephen H. Smith was off sharply with Christian Hiraldo, battled with Widget Factory through fractions of :23.46 and :47.31, then drew off on the turn and went on to score by nearly four lengths as Paul Espinosa announced that “Cowboy at Heart wins with something left in the tank.”

Cowboy at Heart received an 88 ‘E’ figure for the effort, his best ever, after getting 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:20.00 and collecting a check for $10,479. He paid $9.80 and raised his record to 4-2-1, with three of the victories coming this year.

NEOLITHIC – Stone Age broke his maiden in his ninth start, also with his best-ever ‘E,’ a 76, at Gulfstream Park. The 3-year-old gelding owned and bred by Shade Tree Thoroughbreds won a heated stretch battle by half a length in 1:11.50 for six furlongs with Edwin Gonzalez in the irons. He earned $11,600 and became winner No. 12 for Neolithic from 24 starters in 2022.

GONE ASTRAY – Shade Tree Thoroughbreds is also the breeder of Fast Loaded, who won at Laurel for his 10th victory in a 28-race career, and his third this year, all since April 20. With Walter Rodriguez aboard, the 5-year-old gelding prevailed by a neck after a head-and-head battle with 1/2 favorite Bahama Channel, clocked in 1:26.17 for the seven furlongs. Fast Loaded earned $10,800, which boosted his career total to $195,477. He paid $7.20.