Genuwine fastest in Bluegrass 2-Year-Old Colt Pace

September 29, 2007

In a reversal of fortunes from their match-up 12 days ago in a Simpson division, MCA was able to surge past Its That Time to win the first of four divisions of the $436,000 Bluegrass for 2-year-old colt pacers Saturday afternoon at The Red Mile.

Dave Palone sent MCA to the lead and set an opening fraction of :28.4 before John Campbell rushed Its That Time to the front. The scenario was then the exact opposite of their Simpson battle as in that contest Its That Time sat the pocket trip behind MCA before rushing past him in the stretch for the win. Here, Its That Time reached the half in :56.2 and three-quarters in 1:24.4, but he was unable to fend off the stretch charge of MCA, who crossed the wire in 1:52. Upfront Hannahsboy was third for David Miller.

Mickey Burke trains the winning son of Real Desire for owners Burke, Ringer, Cherichello and Karr. The career-best win in the $108,500 division was his sixth in 11 starts this year, increasing his earnings to more than $218,000.

The second $108,500 split went to Warning Zone and driver Ron Pierce in a career-best 1:51.2. Pierce got away fourth with the son of Jate Lobell before moving to the lead down the backstretch. From there he led the rest of the way to easily defeat Western Trademark and driver Yannick Gingras, with Vette Man third for Andy Miller.

Virgil Morgan Jr. trains the winner for owner Joseph Muscara, who purchased the gelding privately about six weeks ago. The win was his sixth in eight starts, increasing his earnings to more than $244,000.

"The race went the way as we were hoping," said Morgan in the winner's circle. "He's real handy; real quick. He's actually better from off the pace."

The third division was marred when the field scattered when Dreams Are real made a break on the backstretch, which allowed Lonestar Legend to open up about a 10-length lead at the :55 half. But the Fox winner tired in the stretch to fourth as Sand Shooter and driver David Miller led the onslaught first across the wire in a career-best 1:51.3. Dali also rallied late for Luc Ouellette to finish second with Todd JH Hanover third for Jody Jamieson.

Jim Arledge Jr. trains the winning son of Western Hanover for owner Bill Sanders. The win was his second in nine starts, increasing his earnings to just shy of $100,000.

Genuwine got a sharp drive from Andy Miller and the strategy paid off with a 1:50.2 victory in the final $109,500 division. Using the rail post position to his advantage, Miller got awy third with Genuwine, movd to the lead at the quarter, and then sat the pocket to Riggins, who had charged to the front approaching the half. The opening quarter was :28 but then the tempo picked up with a :26-second second quarter.

Miller was able to re-rally his charge in the stretch and he was able to edge past the leading Riggins to gain the decision. On The Brink finished third for Luc Ouellette.

"That was the trip we wanted," said Miller afterward. "Let the dust settle in front."

Miller drove the son of Cam's Card Shark for his brother, trainer Erv Miller. Owned by Ronald Michelon, Genuwine now has seven wins in nine starts, with earnings now surpassing $116,000. The Bluegrass win was his third straight, and followed up his win in the $85,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final at Freehold last Saturday afternoon.

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