Classic Z Tam extends streak with 1:53 mile at DuQuoin

The Classic Z Tam remained undefeated in four starts this year after capturing his $5,000 Governor’s Cup elimination in a career-best 1:53 Monday night at the Du Quoin State Fair. The Cole Muffler gelding with Tyler Buter in the bike was a 3 3/4-length winner over Grandma Jan’s Max and Brent Holland with My Boy Luke and Tom Simmons third.

Trainer David McCaffrey co-owns the winner with Z Tam Racing LLC. McCaffrey’s other entry in the race, Enzo The Baker, who won the Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes final at Springfield two weeks ago, was scratched from the race due to sickness.

Smellthecolornine, who finished second to Enzo The Baker at Springfield, captured the other Governor’s Cup elimination in 1:54.3 with Marcus Miller driver for his father, trainer Erv Miller. The Cole Muffler colt is owned by Michael Anderson and Shim Racing LLC.

In a pair of upsets, world record holder Southern Rocketop and the previously undefeated Fox Valley Topaz went down to defeat in their respective eliminations.

Southern Rocketop, who set the 1:54.1 world record for 2-year-old trotting geldings at Springfield, broke stride in the stretch while on the lead and finished second to Dr. McDreamy’s 1:56 mile in the first elimination of the Darn Safe. Homer Hochstetler trains and drives the American Native colt, who won for the second straight time in four starts this year. The colt is owned by Connie Hochstetler and Bruce and Dean Alexander.

Hochstetler’s attempt to win the second Darn Safe elim with Be Bullish was thwarted by Definer and Buter who scored a one-half length victory in 1:59.3. Kenny Collier trains the Armbro Tropicana gelding, who won for the fourth time in six starts for Robert Rietveld, Jack Dorn, Paul Gibson and Kenny Collier.

Fox Valley Topaz and Michael Oosting were riding a five-race winning streak coming into the First Lady eliminations for freshman filly pacers, but Called To Love and Dave Magee, who finished second to Fox Valley Topaz at Springfield, overtook the favorite in deep stretch for a three-quarter length victory in 1:54.4. It was the second score of the year in five starts for the daughter of Art’s Conquest who is trainer by Timothy Barbre for  Rick, Erwin and Gary Barbre and James Hepp.

Racing at DuQuoin continues tonight, Thursday and  Friday afternoons and concludes Saturday afternoon with the featured World Trotting Derby, when Hambletonian winner Deweycheatumnhowe will attempt to extend his career unbeaten streak to 17 in a row.

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