Dontblamerocket Wins Colonel E. R. Bradley Stakes
Image:
Description:
Photo: Hodges Photography/Amanda Hodges Weir
Dontblamerocket draws off in the Colonel E. R. Bradley Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course
AJ Suited Racing Stable's Dontblamerocket overcame a rocky start to earn the first stakes scores of his career in the Jan. 18 $123,750 Colonel E. R. Bradley Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Trained by Norm Casse, the gelded son of Blame settled in the two path off the first turn under jockey Julien Leparoux, having been bumped coming out of the gate. Running almost five lengths behind the leading duo of Sailing Solo and Factor This, Dontblamerocket looked non-threatening at the back of the field as Sailing Solo put the field through their paces. Six furlongs went in 1:10.60 as Factor This slowly chipped away at the Sailing Solo's advantage before coming within a head of Sailing Solo at as the field turned for home.
Angled out four wide coming off the final turn, Dontblamerocket was set down for a drive and managed to shoot past Sailing Solo at the top of the stretch to take control and draw clear by 1 1/2 lengths. From there the battle for the finish proved an easy one, with Dontblamerocket widening his lead to three lengths over Sailing Solo who weakened in the stretch. Midnight Tea Time made a late-running move up the three path but did not have enough in reserve to post a serious threat to Dontblamerocket, who was the clear winner by three lengths in a final time of 1:40.55.
Saturday's stakes marked the third consecutive win for Dontblamerocket, who closed out 2019 with two starter allowance scores at Saratoga Race Course and Kentucky Downs, respectively. Bred in Kentucky by Whitham Thoroughbreds out of the Dixieland Band mare Theme Song, he was purchased by Frank Fletcher Racing for $75,000 from the consignment of Denali Stud to the 2015 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. Dontblamerocket has a 7-2-3 record from 14 starts, with $276,650 in purse earnings.
Video: Colonel E. R. Bradley S. (BT)
Quebec Takes Marie G. Krantz
Connie and Richard Snyder's Quebec opened her 6-year-old season on a high note Saturday as well, going gate-to-wire in the $100,000 Marie G. Krantz Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Ridden by Adam Beschizza, Quebec broke sharply to set the pace just off the rail through fractions of :23.30 and :48.09 for a half-mile. With a solid advantage over Makealitlemischief, Quebec shifted closer to the rail coming off the far turn and pulled clear by two lengths before driving home.
Don't Tell Marge, who made a bid for the lead just off the rail coming off the outside turn, moved up on the far outside to challenge Quebec and drew on even terms with the leader. Quebec was set down for a drive in deep stretch and managed to prevail by a neck over her challenger for the win. Final time for the 1 1/16 miles on the firm grass was 1:42.28.
Don't Tell Marge held for second by a head over Stave. Makealitlemischief, Area, La Signare, Smart Emma, Divine Queen, and Avie's Mineshaft completed the order of finish.
Bred in Kentucky by Preston Madden, Quebec is out of the Distorted Humor mare Miss Canada. The daughter of Into Mischief , a Joe Sharp trainee, was purchased by Cove Springs for $105,000 from the Vinery Sales consignment to the 2019 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. She holds a 7-7-3 record from 30 starts with earnings of $343,601.