Gone Astray, Handsome Mike get winners in West Virginia and California
Pleasant Acres stallions struck at venues 3,000 miles apart on Sunday, with Quantum Quest winning in his first try after being claimed at Golden Gate Fields, and Darlindiva making it two victories in a row at Mounaineer Race Track Casino and Resort.
After trainer Bill McLean claimed Quantum Quest for himself for $12,500 on April 3, he sent the 4-year-old by Gone Astray back 21 days later for $20,000 and it paid off. Quantum Quest flew to the lead with Pedro Terrera, sped past the furlong markers in :21.85, :44.84 and :56.86, and was hand-ridden to the wire to win by three lengths. The clocking of 1:03.27 is just one and 34 hundredths of a second off the track record for 5 1/2 furlongs. The gelding bred by W. K. and D. S. France earned $12,600, paid $10.20 and received an Equibase ‘E’ speed figure of 95, best of his seven-race career. He is Gone Astray’s 18th winner of 2022.
Despite winning her last at a mile by 3 1/2 lengths, Darlindiva paid a generous $11.20 after scoring by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:13.78 for the six furlongs. The 6-year-old daughter of Handsome Mike hooked up in an early duel with Ready to Play, and after a quarter in :22.69, put her rival away on the turn and went on to score under Charle Oliveros without being threatened. She raised her earnings to $69,042 on a record of 6-4-7 in 31 starts.