Capricornus Is The Star of $30,000 Wm. Wellwood Elimination
September 6 - Capricornus (Cantab Hall - Oh My Darlin) displayed great tenacity in his hard fought victory in tonight's $30,000 William Wellwood elimination at Woodbine Mohawk. Starting from Post 4, Capricornus got away third for driver Tim Tetrick in a 27.4 first quarter, only to find himself challenged by a slow second quarter by the leader Synergy, which resulted in a 58 second half. Undaunted, Capricornus moved up quickly first over to challenge Synergy around the final turn and take the lead in early stretch. Capricornus found himself in a tough stretch battle, holding off a determined bid by second place HP Royal Theo and an earlier challenge by third place Moon Bridge. The 1:55.1 mile was a new lifetime record for Capricornus, who now is
6 - 3 - 0 - 2 with earnings of $93,020. Owned by JJ Stable of Tallinn Estonia, Capricornus is trained by Marcus Melander. He will face his stablemate winner of the other elimination, Ready Cash son Back of the Neck, in the rich Wm. Wellwood Final on September 14.
Hushabye Lulls Opposition to Sleep in $15,000 NY Excelsior A at Saratoga
September 4 - Owner/trainer Blake Macintosh took full advantage today of an opportunity to drop Hushabye (Chapter Seven - Banbury Cross) into a $15,000 division of the NY Excelsior A series at Saratoga. Hushabye got away third from post 2 for driver Brian Sears, and was content to sit quietly as pacesetter Gray Scale led the field past the half in 58.4. Not long after, Hushabye moved first over to take the lead at the 3/4 pole in 1:29. By the top of the stretch Hushabye led by three lengths, and finished with a comfortable and eased one length victory in a new lifetime mark of 2:00. Hushabye is now 7 - 2 - 0 - 2 with earnings of $39,095.
Capricornus Shines in $92,209 PA Sire Stakes at Pocono
August 25 - Capricornus (Cantab Hall - Oh My Darlin) took a big step forward in the ranks of freshman two year old trotters in winning the $92,209 PA Sire Stakes at Pocono tonight. Starting from Post 4 for driver Tim Tetrick, Capricornus left the gate smartly to take the lead in a 28.2 first quarter, only to be content to surrender the lead to King Alphonso before a 57.4 half. Capricornus was content to follow through a 1:26.4 three quarters. Deep in stretch Capricornus ducked inside King Alphonso to score a one length victory over El Ideal, equaling his lifetime mark of 1:55.2. Capricornus is now 5 - 2 - 0 - 2 with earnings of $81,770 for trainer Marcus Melander and owner JJ Stable of Estonia.
Tight Lines Saves Ground, Smokes Competition in 1:52.3f
Conditioned Trot at Pocono
August 25 - Tight Lines (Yankee Glide - Ilia) took the sneaky way home in a strong 1:52.3f winning effort for owner/trainer/driver Jeff Gregory tonight in a $21,500 NW22500L4CD trot tonight at Pocono. Tight Lines got away from post 4 indifferently, and was content to sit fifth behind pacesetter Very Very Fast in fractions of 27.3, 56.0, and 1:24. Coming around the final turn, Tight Lines was locked in third on the inside until Say You Do in front of him decided to break and run inside the pylons. Suddenly confronted with open access to the inside passing lane, Tight Lines streaked into the gap to beat Very Very Fast by a neck in 1:52.3f. Tight Lines has won 20 races lifetime and earned $489,246.
Capricornus Goes to the Head of the Class
in $10,000 Kindergarten Leg at the Meadowlands
July 19 - Capricornus (Cantab Hall - Oh My Darlin) announced that he will be an important two year old trotting colt this year in a dominant 1:55.2 lifetime mark victory in a $10,000 leg of the Kindergarten Series tonight at the Meadowlands. Driver Tim Tetrick got Capricornus away third from post 3 in a 28.3 first quarter, and was not content to sit for long. Starting a move toward the front before the half, Capricornus instead flushed Big Oil from second to take over the lead while his own move was postponed in a 57.2 half. Capricornus then came out after the 5/8 to look pacesetter Big Oil in the eye at a 1:27 3/4 mile. From there, it was all Capricornus cruising and wrapped up to take a no doubts 2 length victory in 1:55.2. Owned by JJ Stable of Estonia and trained by Marcus Melander, Capricornus earned his first stakes victory and is now
4 - 2 - 0 - 2 with earnings of $8,600.
Jula Champagne Second In Rich $200,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final
at the Meadowlands
July 12 - Jula Champagne (Trixton - Sweetspellosuccess) earned a great paycheck in finishing second in the $200,000 NJSS Final at the Meadowlands tonight. Starting from post 2, Jula Champagne got away sixth for driver Yannick Gingras. This difficult result during a cavalry charge to the front in 28 seconds set Jula Champagne up for a hard slog on the outside and uncovered, which she began first over well before the half. Jula Champagne advanced to third on the outside in a fast 3/4 of 1:25.2 behind leader and winner Fortune Starlet. She held ground courageously throughout the stretch, and was eventually placed second after Caviart Eva broke near the wire. The race went in 1:54.3, and Jula Champagne was timed in a very credible 1:55.3 effort. The $50,000 paycheck increases her lifetime earnings to $56,250 during her short career.
Jula Champagne Second In $25,000 NJSS Leg; Will Qualify For $200,000 Final
July 5 - Jula Champagne (Trixton - Sweetspellosuccess) qualified for the rich $200,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final by finishing second in tonight's $25,000 leg of the NJSS at the Meadowlands. Starting far outside in post 9 for driver Yannick Gingras, Jula Champagne left smartly to second position outside in 28.1, and eventually cleared to the lead before a 59.1 half. Soon thereafter, Fortune Starlet moved from third to challenge at the 3/4 in 1:29.1. From there, it was a fast sprint home with Fortune Starlet prevailing over a tough Jula Champagne by a length in 1:55.4. Jula Champagne was timed 27.1 in the last quarter, showing that she remained a determined competitor throughout the race.
Tight Lines Takes Third in $75,000 Great Northeast Open
June 29 - Tight Lines (Yankee Glide - Ilia) continued his career of quiet excellence with a fine third place finish to World Champion Hannelore Hanover in the $75,000 Great Northeast Open Invitational at Pocono Downs. Hannlelore Hanover assumed command well before the half, leading the rest of the way to score a one length victory over Rich And Miserable in 1:52.2f. Driver/trainer Jeff Gregory patiently hugged Tight Lines along the rail, and was rewarded with room inside to sneak past Ice Attraction and Muscle Diamond to take third in 1:53.1f. Tight Lines is now 8 - 3 - 1 - 2 for $49,700 in 2019, raising his lifetime earnings to $463,926.
Hushabye Wins $26,000 NYSS at Buffalo in First Start
June 26 - Hushabye (Chapter Seven - Banbury Cross) looked much like the seasoned veteran within a group of six inexperienced 2YO filly trotters in winning her $26,000 division of the New York Sire Stakes at Buffalo. From post 5, Hushabye got away an unhurried fourth with driver Jim Morrill, Jr. It didn't take long for the field to scatter, as three filly trotters went off stride by the quarter while Forever N Ever K took an eight length lead for trainer/driver Charlie Norris. Before the 3/4 pole, Hushabye pulled outside first over to challenge the leader by the top of the stretch, and finally emerged victorious by a neck in 2:05, last quarter in 29.2. Hushabye was a $26,000 Harrisburg purchase for owner/trainer Blake Macintosh, and owners Steve Heimbecker, Mortgage Boys Stable, and Hushabye Stables.
2019 Racing Highlights for Horses Bred by Windsong Stable
June 29 - Tight Lines (Yankee Glide - Ilia) continued his career of quiet excellence with a fine third place finish to World Champion Hannelore Hanover in the $75,000 Great Northeast Open Invitational at Pocono Downs. Hannlelore Hanover assumed command well before the half, leading the rest of the way to score a one length victory over Rich And Miserable in 1:52.2f. Driver/trainer Jeff Gregory patiently hugged Tight Lines along the rail, and was rewarded with room inside to sneak past Ice Attraction and Muscle Diamond to take third in 1:53.1f. Tight Lines is now 8 - 3 - 1 - 2 for $49,700 in 2019, raising his lifetime earnings to $463,926.