Simpson. Looked good on Pierre Lapin.
by George
Pierre Lapin came rolling home under Trevor Simpson to win the featured third race Wednesday at ASD on an evening when the betting pools were large and lucrative and two horses were claimed out of the same race for $15,000. Each.
Claims over $10,000 are rare at ASD, let alone two out of the same race. And there’s no question who the best horse was in that race, but he wasn’t among the claims.
Pierre Lapin responded to some much-needed rating by Simpson before pounding home in the third race to wear down pacesetter Muted Word in the drive. Trained by Clayton Gray, Pierre Lapin paid $13.10 to win by 1 ¾-lengths over a rallying Lake Sawyer, who passed tiring third-place finisher Muted Word. Neither of the top two finishers in the race was among the claims.
Muted Word was claimed back by Tom Gardipy Jr. for Sierra Stable and Black Diamond, and fourth-place finisher Wicked Landlord was claimed by trainer Emile Corbel for owner Larry Carter.
Gardipy had lost Muted Word via the claiming route for $10,000 to owner Barry Arnason out of a winning race at ASD on May 18 and Gardipy basically spent his winnings from that race to get the horse back for the higher $15,000 price tag. Was he worth it? He looks like a decent horse to us, and seven furlongs was just a touch too far for him on Wednesday night. We’re not sure what to make of Wicked Landlord yet, who was well placed outside throughout and lacked a closing response.
The other highlight of the night was the rousing rally by So Shiny in the sixth race. Ridden by Prayven Badrie for owner-trainer Melissa Peach, the 12-1 shot came flying home to win by a half length over Artic Fire, who also rallied well under Trevor Simpson. Badrie looked polished and in sync with his mount during the stretch run, and his riding has definitely improved since last year. Both So Shiny and Artic Fire will now likely point to the $30,000 Golden Boy on June 8, where they’ll meet the undefeated Balooga Bull. Should be a great race!
The betting pools were larger than usual on Wednesday and it showed up in the 15% Pick-4, which paid $2,542.90 for a $2 ticket thanks to longshot winners Heavenly Lioness ($30.00) in the fourth race and the aforementioned So Shiny ($26.20). Jennifer Reid rode Heavenly Lioness for trainer Murray Duncan, and that horse was an overlay considering her trainer.
Jockey Paul Nolan won the second and final legs of the Pick-4 aboard favorites to increase his meet-leading total to 19 wins, 10 more than current runner up Rohan Singh. While Nolan has been riding some good horses this year at the Downs, he has given every horse he has ridden a chance to win, which is a rarer trait than you might think.
Have you read this week’s Insider Newsletter yet? Always worth a read. Here’s the highlights:
- Retired fireman hoses rivals to earn Vegas trip
- Horse ownership in your dreams? Make it a reality Saturday
- What is the most famous ASD race call ever?
- “No nose strip!” NY stewards tell Another’s trainer
- Will Union Rags be the spoiler? Sorry, my hunch says “yes”
- Harness trainer faces $172 million in fines — yes, million
- How’s your karma? Free VLT tourneys for cash begin Friday
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Next Post Time for Live Racing: 7 p.m. Friday, June 1, 2012