Gone Astray’s runners reach another milestone

Adding a late result coming in from Puerto Rico, it turns out that Gone Astray’s runners have now won 600 races.

Amor Elviva, a 7-year-old mare bred by Walter Stipa, scored at Camarero Race Track last week and raised her record to 9-10-6 in 51 races. But with the dearth of big money available in PR, she has earned just $51,985.

Francisco Maysonett rode Amor Elviva, who carried highweight of 120 pounds in the race at 5 1/2 furlongs. He kept his mare pressed to the flank of the leader in the two path, took over in the stretch and she went on to score by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:08.33, paying $3.10. She had been off for more than a year until Nov. 6, and this was just her second outing since returning.

Gone Astray’s 600 winning rides have been accomplished by 197 winners, with 47 winners coming this year

Gone Dreaming was visibly ‘gone’ for much of her first 2022 victory

Penn National’s handicappers watched Gone Dreaming shoot right to the front in the fourth race last night, then never saw her again until she cruised under the wire 10 1/4 lengths in front. In between, the field was enveloped by dense fog and was virtually invisible as they headed down the backstretch of the mile and 70-yard race.

The 4-year-old filly became Gone Astray’s 47th winner of 2022, and her check for $6,480 sent the son of Dixie Union over the $1.8 million mark in 2022 progeny earnings. In addition, Gone Dreaming’s first victory of the year left Gone Astray’s runners one short of making 600 career visits to the winners’ circle. The filly bred by Tom McCrocklin paid $4.80 after getting the distance in 1:45.82 over a sloppy track.

Soon to be 7, Sir Seamus still going strong

Sir Seamus will turn seven in 27 days, but he doesn’t seem to have lost any of his speed or toughness.

The Handsome Mike gelding bred by Joe and Helen Barbazon scored his seventh career victory yesterday at Woodbine, and it was a thing of beauty. With Rafael Hernandez in the irons, Sir Seamus sailed past the furlong markers in :22.49, :44.66 and 1:09.25 en route to a 2 1/4-length victory in 1:22.86 for the seven-eighths over the all-weather track.

It was worth $33,070 in U. S. currency and raised his career earnings to $241,483 on a record of 7-4-4 in 35 tries. Sir Seamus paid $8.60, has been in the top four in nine straight races, and has posted five straight Equibase ‘E’ speed figures in the 90s.

A profitable Sunday for Neolithic

With a victory and a third to show for his first three starts, it would seem Carabinero would have had some measure of tote board support in his fourth try. But yesterday’s Gulfstream crowd wasn’t in agreement, and the 2-year-old Neolithic gelding was sent off at a healthy 20-1, and his second victory was worth $42.60.

Carabinero was ridden by Jose Morelos in the $54,000 allowance race at six furlongs, and they got away fifth, tracking the leaders from about four lengths behind down the backstretch. After a quarter in :22.15 and a half in :45.35, Morelos took the colt bred by Lotts Creek Farm six wide into the stretch and he proved best by three-quarters of a length, clocked in 1:11.62. The check for $32,400 lifted the gelding’s total to $48,220 for his four tries, nearly reaching his purchase price of $55,000 at the March OBS sale.

Another Neolithic runner was making her first start Sunday, and 11-1 New Rome finished second to a heavy favorite in a $54,300 maiden special at Laurel Race Course. She earned $10,400.

Bucchero Colt bids Adios on Tampa Bay Downs turf

As his freshman season nears a close, Bucchero continues to impress; he added winner No. 10 yesterday at Tampa Bay Downs, and his top earner edged closer to $100,000 at Fair Grounds.

Adios Buccaneer: The sharp handicappers who have been feasting on Bucchero’s early prowess made another score at Tampa when the 2-year-old colt bred by Curtis Mikkelsen and Patricia Horth won in his debut and paid a generous $30.40. Skyler Spanabel settled Adios Buccaneer in fourth along the inside in the race at 1 1/16 miles on the grass, swung him out for the stretch drive and he proved best late, winning by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:44.32. He earned $11,250.

Aside from his 10 winners among 26 starters, Bucchero also has eight others who have finished second or third.

Toddchero: The colt bred by GDS Stable finished third in a $51,000 allowance optional claimer at Fair Grounds and collected $5,610, raising his leading total among his sire’s runners to $85,600.

Mister Abarrio vaults Neolithic over $800,000

Neolithic surpassed the $800,000 mark in 2022 progeny earnings despite having just 35 runners when Mister Abarrio out-gamed Leavenworth by a head in a $35,000 maiden claimer at Gulfstream Park yesterday.

Mister Abarrio, a $30,000 OBS October yearling bred by Dr. Tiffany Atteberry and Scott Brown, became winner No. 19 for his sire this season in his fourth start. With Heriberto Figueroa riding, the 2-year-old colt covered a mile and 70 yards on the Tapeta track in 1:41.49, coming from eight lengths back early in the race, moving up with a strong burst coming to the turn, taking the lead in the stretch and prevailing by a head bob at the wire. He paid $7.40 and collected a check for $19,600.

In his second season, Neolithic’s progeny earnings have reached $818,840.

Clay Soldier lifts Bucchero into tie for Florida freshman lead

Bucchero is tied for the Florida freshman sire lead with nine winners after the maiden-breaking victory of Clay Soldier at Gulfstream Park yesterday.

Leonel Reyes was aboard the filly who was making her career debut in the rain for Dr. Cornelius (Sonny) Link in a 5 1/2-furlong test over the Tapeta surface. Clay Soldier tracked the leaders in the two path down the backstretch, began cutting into the lead on the turn, sliced between horses at the top of the stretch and went on to score by 1 1/2 lengths. She was clocked in 1:05.82 and earned a check for $17,800 for the retired dentist.

Despite a series of good works leading up to her debut as has been the case with so many of Bucchero’s runners, Clay Soldier went off at 7-1 and paid $17.80.

Bucchero lost his bid for his first stakes-winner when Anamnestic finished first in a $60,000 stakes race at Gulfstream but was disqualified and placed fifth for causing interference to several horses in the stretch.

After two setbacks, Alluramore is just now reaching her peak

Alluramore showed signs of promise as a 2-year-old when in her first three starts she finished fourth in both the Desert Vixen Stakes and Susan’s Girl Stakes, and sixth in the $400,000 My Dear Girl. However, she’s been on the shelf twice for long periods since then, and after her daylight victory in a $51,000 allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park yesterday, the 4-year-old daughter of Gone Astray has but eight races to show for her career.

The good news is that after her last vacation of 10 months, Alluramore returned with a purpose. Her first start back for co-owner/trainer Steve Dwoskin resulted in a fifth-place finish, but she has since finished third, first and first, each time recording a higher Equibase ‘E’ speed figure. The third was rewarded with an 83 ‘E,’ the first victory by a 90, and yesterday by a 100.

Miguel Vasquez was aboard for yesterday’s one-mile race, and he placed his filly in fourth on the inside down the backstretch. With a monster wide move on the turn, Alluramore swept into the lead in the stretch and coasted to the wire 8 1/4 lengths in front, clocked in 1:37.96. She earned $31,300, boosting her career total to $97,470 on a record of 3-0-1 in her eight tries. She left Gone Astray three winner’s circle visits short of 600 in his career.

Septemberten has become a collector of breeders’ awards

Septemberten has been in so many barns during his racing career he must be feeling like a foster child.

Running for $20,000 in a $43,000 allowance optional claimer yesterday at Gulfstream Park, the 6-year-old gelding by Gone Astray changed homes via the claiming route again after his come-from-behind victory, his seventh winner’s circle visit in 42 career starts.

Septemberten, bred by OBS financial officer Randell Edwards and his wife, Lucy, was a $3,500 OBS October yearling in 2017, but they have more than made up for it with lucrative breeders’ awards. The gelding has run up a record of 7-7-10 in those 42 races, all in South Florida, including scores in three of his last four in which the Edwards’ have earned about $10,000.

Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Sonny Leon was aboard for yesterday’s victory, in which Septemberten raced last down the backstretch in the one-mile race. Leon swung him four wide on the turn and the gelding looped the field, took the lead in mid-track and continued on for a one-length victory in 1:37.96. He paid $5.20, and the winner’s check for $25,800 raised his career earnings to $280,325.

Hard West makes it look easy in northeast

Hard West may never experience an easier trip than he did in the 10th race at Parx yesterday.

With Jose Gomez riding, the son of Gone Astray broke on top from the No. 9 post in the race at 6 1/2 furlongs, eased back to second along with two rivals going to the quarter, left that pair behind on the turn and ran over the pacesetter without taking a deep breath. He led by six lengths midway down the stretch, and prevailed by nearly four while being wrapped up late by Gomez.

The 5-year-old bred by JDBA stables and owned and trained by Clarence B. King has run up a record of 8-4-4 in 41 starts, and the $12,600 check increased his career total to $136,551. His third victory of 2022, achieved in 1:18.55, was worth $26.60 at the mutuel windows.