Easy winners in Confederation Cup, Brandywine Battle

August 17, 2008

After winning his elimination heat for the Confederation Cup, Somebeachsomewhere drew post two for the final and turned in a world-record-effort in sub-1:50 time with ease, and just a about an hour later Badlands Nitro used a second-over journey to vault to a open-lengths score in the $500,000 Battle of Brandywine at Harrah's Chester.

Somebeachsomewhere nicked a quarter and sustained a small cut while winning his Confederation Cup elim, but when he drew post two in the final and the other elim winner, Shadow Play, landed in post eight, the race seemed to be over with before it even started.

And when it did start, driver Paul MacDonell quickly took control with Somebeachsomewhere and cruised through fractions of :26.2, :55.2 and 1:22.4 before hitting the wire in 1:49.2. The previous world mark for a 3-year-old pacing colt was the 1:50 mile turned in by Mr. Feelgood last year at Delaware, Ohio. The all-age mark is 1:49, a mark held by both Jet Laag and Ponder.

Going to the halfway mark in the Cofederation Cup, Randy Waples made a bid first-over with Keystone Horatio, but by the three-quarter mark he was out of contention, and the rest of the field showed no sign of threatening.

Santanna Blue Chip, who enjoyed a trip in the pocket, held on for second while The Mohegan Pan took third and Keystone Horatio dug in for fourth. Shadow Play picked up the last check.

Somebeachsomewhere has now won seven of eight starts this year, with his only defeat--and only career defeat--coming in the Meadowlands Pace final.

In the Battle of Brandywine at Harrah's Chester, Badlands Nitro was the betting favorite, starting from post one, and he didn't disappoint. Despite starting from post one, driver Brian Sears chose to float away from the gate slowly, wanting to see who was leaving. When three horses--Dali, McCedes and Blueridge Western--were sent to the front, Sears dropped back and even allowed a hole for John Campbell to slip into with Share The Delight.

Sears's strategy allowed him to pick up cover from Share The Delight going to the half and the second-over trip took him until the last turn, when he finally tipped three wide. Badlands Nitro quickly stepped out in front to win in 1:50.2 for trainer George Teague, who shares ownership of the colt by Badlands Hanover with breeder John Celii.

The Jim Campbell-trained Mystery Case got up for second while Dali held for third.

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