'Coleman Trio' on tap for Roses Are Red

Multiple O'Brien Award-winning trainer Casie Coleman will send out an impressive three-pronged attack in this Saturday night's pair of $50,000(C) eliminations for The Roses Are Red Stakes for pacing mares at Mohawk Racetrack.

Coleman, who is once again on top of the WEG trainer standings this season, will be represented by KG Katriona in the opening split in race four and the duo of Guestimate and Moving Pictures in the second elimination in race six.

"I'm really happy with how all three of them are coming into Saturday," said Coleman following Friday morning's qualifying session at Mohawk. "They are three quality mares and I'm hoping they perform at their best. If so, they should all be very competitive."

Moving Pictures is the most accomplished of the three at this point with more than $547,000 on her card. The 4-year-old daughter of D M Dilinger ended last season on a high note, finishing a solid second in the $300,000(C) OSS Super Final and then winning the $200,000(C) SBOA final.

It has not taken the strapping mare long to adjust to life in the older ranks.

"She has come back really good this year," said Coleman. "She grew up a lot and got very muscular. She really does look like an aged horse. She is a big grinder really and if she gets a tough trip, she can take it. She is not the type of mare that just needs a perfect trip."

Ironically, she received what as ultimately a perfect, inside trip in the $250,000 Classic Distaff final at Mohawk on June 16, although the final result was in doubt right up until the finish.

"Mark (driver Mark MacDonald) had all kinds of pace with her, but it looked like we were locked in solid and weren't going to get out," admitted Coleman. "But, he found a seam with her late and got there right on the wire. It was a really nice win."

MacDonald will be back behind Moving Pictures on Saturday from post eight, while stablemate Guestimate will start from post four with Phil Hudon doing the driving. The 5-year-old daughter of The Panderosa is a perfect two-for-two since shipping back into the Coleman barn in late May.

"I'm a bit surprised in how good she has been," said Coleman. "When she came back from Alberta this time, she wasn't winning out there. I thought she must not be as good because when she came to me last summer, she was coming off win, win, win every week. This time, I just changed her shoeing up front because she has some problems with her front feet and worked on them a bit and just tinkered with her equipment to get her rigged the way I wanted. She's been strong in both starts and I think she can go with them. Phil drove her last year and got along well with her, so I'm hoping they click again."

Of the trio, Coleman believes KG Katriona is the one who needs a certain type of trip to be at her very best, especially at this level.

"Mark needs to work her out some kind of trip," she said. "She can leave, but she is definitely better from off the pace and off a helmet. If things go her way, she has shown that she is good enough."

KG Katriona will start from post three in her elimination which also includes Classic Distaff runner-up Vysoke Tatry and sub-1:50 winner Street Dancer. The second split will also feature Darlin's Delight, who was scratched from the Classic Distaff final, and the outstanding My Little Dragon, who banked more than $950,000 last season as a sophomore. (WEG)

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