WINSTAR BLAZING MEADOWS DUO SWEEP $75,000 HOOVER
WINSTAR – BLAZING MEADOWS DUO SWEEP $75,000 HOOVER STAKES
The $75,000 Hoover at Belterra Park is the first stakes race for 2-year-old colts and geldings in the Ohio Program. The newly-formed partnership between Lexington Kentucky’s WinStar Farm and Blazing Meadows Farm is proving quickly to be an exciting one and a challenge not only for their competition but also for stablemates. Candy Exchange, a son of Sidney’s Candy out of Awesome Eve by Awesome Again broke on top in the 5 ½ furlong test with Pablo Morales in the saddle and bested his odds-on partner Awaken by three widening lengths. It was 6 ¾ lengths back to Tiz a Rush in third.
“Awaken (by Super Saver) reminds me of a better horse going long based on how they work,” said trainer Tim Hamm. “This Candy Exchange is very quick and I knew he’s get the lead, I just wasn’t sure how he would respond if a good horse came to him. Awaken has been a nice horse all along, so I won’t lie, I actually thought he’d run by that horse in the lane, but he (Candy Exchange) ran the stake just like he broke his maiden, the jock shook the reins and he was gone.”
Hamm has entered into a unique partnership with WinStar Farm and the first two starters have both been stakes winners. Blazing Meadows provides the mares and WinStar breeds them to one of their elite stallions. “I sent the trophy down to Elliot Walden at WinStar and said I wanted a piece of Ohio in their trophy case. Elliot got back to me and said they are very happy being associated with Ohio and our stable, so I think it is a great thing at this point. This has given me the opportunity to breed to a much better horse than we ever have and it shows. Those two and some others we have with them – the quality is there. I hope some other Ohio breeders can make a similar relationship with other top farms.”
Candy Exchange is now 2 for 2 lifetime, breaking his maiden by 9 ¼ lengths and has never been headed for earnings of $75,500. His final time for the 5 1/2 furlongs on a fast track was 1:04.53. The next 2-year-old stakes races for males is the Cleveland Kindergarten at 6 furlongs August 5 at Jack Thistledown.
OWNER-TRAINER MIKE RONE’S AIM IS “TRUE” IN $75,000 CINCINNATIAN STAKES
For owner-trainer Mike Rone his most recent stakes winner came about in a case of “right place , right time,” combined with his sharp eye for horseflesh. Bob Jeonette had managed Larry Beyer’s Beyerpatch Farm and after Larry’s passing last year the family wanted to disperse his horses. He called Mike who made a quick trip down to the farm and ended up buying 10 of them. “Some I sold to my client Ron DeWolfe. By the grace of God I kept two fillies that are full sisters to True Cinder and Alcindor’s Ransome, who beat open company at Thistledown last week. I am truly blessed.”
In the 1 1/16 mile Cincinnatian at Belterra Park, his filly True Cinder would attempt at going two turns for the first time in her career. “I get up on her every morning and I could tell she would be rateable. Rex Stokes was up on her 10 days ago for a bullet work going 5 furlongs in a minute flat, so she is really on her toes now.” In the Cincinnatian Stakes, True Cinder pretty much controlled a tepid pace, but was headed in the lane. “Johnny McKee did a good job. He tested us in the first quarter mile and then back off getting a breather on Sugar Lane. He then swooped by us into the stretch, but Rex had enough to hold them off at the wire. Tommy Drury has a nice horse there and I’m sure we will see them again.” Grizabella rallied for the third spot over Diva’s Kitten.
It was the fifth career win in a row for the 3-year-old True Cinder and her third stakes victory. The win in the Cincinnatian pushed her career record to 5-2-1 in 9 starts for $206,800 in earnings
Her sire, Alcindor, a son of Unbridled’s Song, had been standing at Byerpatch, so the runners Rone now has are all accredited Ohio-breds. So, what are the offspring of Alcindor like? “Well they got a little hot spot in them,” quipped Rone. “But they all try hard. I think the fillies might be a little better than the colts.” As far as her next appearance? “I think we’ll try older horses in the Vivacious going 1 1/16 on the turf in five weeks. It’s straight Ohio-breds, I don’t think I have an accredited race until late fall.” Rone now knows she can go long and on the turf and her current form has been nothing but a slam dunk against her competition.
