Colt trotters strong in International Stallions

Four divisions of the $328,000 International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old colt trotters were on the Friday afternoon card at The Red Mile. Taking home the trophy in the first $81,750 division was Your So Vain, who scored in 1:55 after a break-filled contest.

 

Show Ticket and Charlie Norris led to the opening quarter of :28.2 when Andy Miller sent My Man Can rushing to the lead. My Man Can led through a :56.3 half and 1:26.1 three-quarters.Turning for home, My Man Can went offstride and was angled to the inside by Miller, and then shortly after Show Ticket went on a break as well.

 

At that point Tim Tetrick had Your So Vain on the move on the outside and he was able to rally from behind to gain his first-ever victory. Possessed Fashion closed late to get second for Brian Sears, with Tornado and Ron Pierce third.

 

This was just the thrd career start for Your So Vain, a son of Donato Hanover trained by Brad Maxwell. The colt finished third last time out in a Bluegrass division at odds of 49-1.

 

"I talked to Brad and he said try to just teach him his first start; he really impressed me, too," said Tetrick. "I really liked him. He trotted home good. If we'd had another eighth of a mile, he'd have won last week. I actually told Brad after the race last week that this horse will win in (1):55 and he thought I was crazy, but he did."

 

Your So Vain, a $60,000 yearling purchase by PG Van Camp Stables, increased his earnings to more than $52,000 with the victory.

 

The second $81,750 ISS division went to Fashion Blizzard and driver Jim Morrill Jr. in a career-best 1:54.3.

 

Morrill had Fashion Blizzard on the lead at the :54.3 half but after a stretch down the backstretch battling with the first-over Broadway Prince and Pierce, relinquished control. Broadway Prince led to the three-quarters in 1:24, but he was unable to ward off the stretch rally of Fashion Blizzard, who was angled back to the outside at the top of the stretch. Here's Johnny finished third.

 

Jim Campbell trains the homebred son of Credit Winner for Fashion Farms. The win was his fifth in 10 starts, increasing his earnings to more than $300,000. 

 

Lewayne Miller rallied Pine Credit to a 1:54.3 win in the third $81,750 ISS division.

 

Ron Pierce was first to the front with Text Winner, reaching the quarter in :27.1 with a parked-out Hall Of Muscles and John Campbell to his outside. Pierce kept Text Winner to his task, reaching the half in :55. Campbell tried to find a hole with his charge, but with nothing there he remained first-over. Still game through the final turn and to the 1:24.4 three-quarters, Hall Of Muscles came back and surged to a short lead at the top of the stretch as Text Winner began to give way.

 

The long route took its toll on Hall Of Muscles, who gave way and faded to fourth. Down the lane it was Pine Credit and Miller who came rallying the fastest, outclosing runner-up Theraputic and Yannick Gingras, with Lauderdale and Mark MacDonald third.

 

Pine Credit is trained by Erv Miller, with Lewayne Miller (no relation) an assistant in the stable. A son of Credit Winner, Pine Credit cost just $19,000 as a yearling. He is owned by Ervin Miller Stable, Harvey Eisman and Mary Jane Anderson. The win was his fifth in 11 starts as well as a career best. Pine Credit's earnings now stand at more than $135,000.

 

The final $82,760 ISS division came down to a stretch battle between the Gingras-driven Dontyouforgetit and the Tetrick-driven Royalty For Life, and it was the latter who emerged victorious in 1:54.2.

 

Major Athens led for much of the way for driver Brian Sears, with Gingras tipping Dontyouforgetit from fifth at the :57.3 on a first-over mission toward the lead. Dontyouforgetit took control turning for home but Royalty For Life wasn't far behind. The two slugged it out toward the wire but it was Royalty For Life who won out in the final strides.

 

A son of RC Royalty, Royalty For Life is owned by breeder Alfred Ross in partnership with Raymond Campbell Jr. and Paul Fontaine. The win was his seventh in 12 starts and lowered his career mark by more than a second. Trained by George Ducharme, Royalty For Life has earnings topping $178,000.