Btwnyurheartnmine, Lightning Glory take other 3FP splits

September 26, 2008

Although she began to tire in deep stretch--likely due to having gone three heats last week in winning the Jugette--Good News Lady held on to win the third of three divisions of the $247,100 Bluegrass for 3-year-old filly pacers Friday afternoon at The Red Mile.

Good News Lady had been winless her first 12 starts of the year before she won the first heat of the Jugette and then, after making an early break in the second heat, came back to win the two-filly race-off over Sprig Hanover to take home the trophy. Showing she likes having found the winner's circle, Good News Lady, with Greg Grismore once again in the sulky, won on Friday in a career-best 1:51.1 in the $82,700 division.

Good News Lady had a commanding lead turning for home but midway down the stretch began to show some weariness. She had just enough left to hold off the late-rallying Ideal Nectarine and Andy Miller, with Knock Three Times third for David Miller.

"The way she came out of the race, she came out better than she went into it," said trainer Jimmy Takter afterward of Good News Lady's three-race start in the Jugette. "She's a strong filly and handled it very well."

A daughter of Western Ideal, Good News Lady is owned by Brittany Farms, Val D'Or Farms and Christina Takter. The win increased her seasonal earnings to more than a half-million dollars and her career bankroll to more than $736,000.

Racing for new owners Eric Cherry's Let It Ride Stables and Robert Cooper Stables after being purchased following her runner-up finish in the recent Nadia Lobell, Btwnyurheartnmine romped to a 1:50.1 victory in the first of three Bluegrass divisions.

Brian Sears got the drive for the first time from new trainer Ross Croghan and he tipped his charge from second shortly past the opening quarter of :28.3 was reached by leader Sprig Hanover. Btwnyurheartnmine took the lead midway down the backstretch and she never looked back as she equaled her career best set in a Kentucky Sire Stakes leg in August at The Red Mile.

Finishing second was the Yannick Gingras-driven Respectable, with Stylish Artist and David Miller third.

A winner of five of nine starts coming into the Bluegrass, Btwnyurheartnmine also included among those victories the $300,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes final. She followed that up with her second-place finish in the Nadia Lobell behind the winning Tug River Princess, who is trained by Croghan.

Croghan said afterward that after the Nadia Lobell he received a call from the new owners telling him Btwnyurheartnmine was for sale and asked what he thought, and he pointed out that Tug River Princess had just beaten her. The win on Friday increased her 2008 earnings to more than $291,000.

The second $82,700 Bluegrass division went to Lightning Glory, who was directed through a first-over trip from the half on by Andrew McCarthy to win in 1:51.4. See And Be Seen was a close second for Ron Pierce with Cherry Bomb and Gingras third.

A daughter of McArdle, Lightning Glory is trained by Anthony Mannino for owner Lightning Stable. The win was her second of the year in 11 starts--her other came in a non-winners of two race at Harrah's Chester last month--increasing her career earnings to more than $147,000.

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