Field set for $766,940 Roses Are Red

June 21, 2008

Tim Tetrick had a huge night on Saturday at Mohawk Racetrack as he drove Tiewaterdragonfly and Southwind Tempo to victories in a pair of $50,000 eliminations for the Roses Are Red Stakes for aged pacing mares.

Tetrick connected first with Tidewaterdragonfly, who made a powerful brush to the lead just past the :55.1 opening half mile and then held all her rivals at bay with a sharp 1:50.1 victory.

The 4-year-old daughter of Dragon Again waited in the early stages as Darlins Delight and race favorite Moving Pictures traded leads in the first half before making the winning move. Moving Pictures was able to hold on for the place spot with My Little Dragon finishing third. Darlin's Delight faded to last, obviously not showing her usual effort.

"She had the nine hole and Tim did a good job of getting her out of there by dropping in fourth." said trainer Kelly O'Donnell, who also developed and co-owned the mare's sire, Dragon Again. "They were rolling pretty good, but when he moved her up the backside she had a pretty good burst. She went past them a lot easier than I thought she would. She dug in deep down the lane and hung on.

"She's always been a tough competitor and loves to race. This filly is good gaited like her sire [Dragon Again] was and she's following in his footsteps."

The victory was the second this season in five tries for Tidewaterdragonfly, who is owned by David Beachler and Annefuria Singleton of Suffolk, Va. The lion's share of the purse boosted her career bankroll to just over $660,000.

In the second split, Tetrick was reunited with the outstanding Southwind Temp, who scored an impressive off-the-pace victory in 1:50.2. He regularly drove the mare last year, but lost the mount to John Campbell this year. (Campbell was at Yonkers Raceway for the Yonkers Trot elimination instead of at Mohawk).

The Bettor's Delight mare followed third-over cover until the top of the stretch before kicking in with a vicious final-quarter rally to haul down pacesetting Southwind Madonna. Longshot Apple Delight rounded out the top three.

"Things didn't work out at all last week in the Lady Liberty," said winning trainer Kevin Lare. "We opened her up since the purchase, she seems to be a lot more relaxed that way. She came off excess cover tonight and sprinted home in around :26.2 or :26.3. She's much better from off the pace, but its hard to take them off the gate every week. When you've got a mare that can leave a quarter in :25 it's hard to take them off the gate trying to figure out what kind of cover you're going to get."

The win was the seventh this season in just 11 tries for Southwind Tempo, who is owned by Jerry Silva of Long Beach, New York.

The $766,940 final of the Roses Are Red Stakes goes next Saturday night at Mohawk. Here's a look at the complete field in post position order:

1. Invitro
2. Southwind Tempo
3. Tidewaterdragonfly
4. Ideal Weather
5. Southwind Madonna
6. Elusive Prey
7. Apple Delight
8. Moving Pictures
9. My Little Dragon
10. Arts A Flutter

(Mohawk)

« Back