Record tied in Arden Downs

The stake record for the Arden Downs 2-year-old colt trot stood for 10 years, but it came under double-barreled assault Tuesday night at The Meadows. Bossy Boss and Tis Himself each equaled the mark of 1:58.2 in capturing divisions of the $67,604 stake, known as the Henry Oliver.

The stake was contested over four divisions, with Keystone Brady and Pembroke Prayer taking the other splits. The Henry Oliver kicked off a week of Grand Circuit racing at The Meadows to be highlighted by the $450,000 Coors Delvin Miller Adios on Saturday.

Meadowbranch Lou and William O’Donnell established the stake record, one of the oldest marks on The Meadows’ books, in 1996. Early leader Bossy Boss was the first to match the mark, scoring with a late stretch drive after being shuffled back to fourth. A key to the victory may have been the training mile the son of SJ’s Caviar went with winning driver Dave Palone.

“The other day when we canceled our card, I took him out and trained him because he was in to go that night,” Palone said. “I trained him in 2:00. I thought he was a pretty good colt. I knew he was a bit of a sleeper on the program.”

Timothy Lane, who co-owns Bossy Boss with Thomas York, Jr., said the colt’s determined performance in his second career start was something of a surprise.

“We brought him along kind of slowly, and we didn’t expect this much out of him this early,” Lane said. “Even though he was used a couple times, he was really strong at the end.”

Jim Arledge, Jr. trains Bossy Boss, a $4,500 weanling purchase, who scored by 1 1/2 lengths over Que Pasa. Neely Dunn finished third.

But the attack on the record book wasn’t done, as Tis Himself prevailed in an early duel with Sweet Daddy Siki, and then drew off to win by 4 1/4 lengths over Kabir. The discouraged Sweet Daddy Siki saved show.

“That was a decent horse that was going out of there with me, but my horse relaxes more on the lead, and I thought it would be a better place for him. I kind of hand-drove him to the wire, but there are a lot of good colts out there. He’ll get tested,” said driver Charlie Norris, who also trains the homebred son of SJ’s Caviar for Bill and Maureen Kirwan. Tis Himself has won four of six career starts.

Keystone Brady was rough-gaited approaching the quarter but was able to gather himself for driver Dick Stillings and triumph in 2:01.1 by three lengths over Onawing Andaprayer. Peaceful Prince was well back in third.

“He’s a little green and he made a couple, three bad steps,” Stillings said. “He’s been so consistent that I never thought he’d make a break just because I took hold of him. But this horse has class. He’s a nice trotter.”
Rich Gillock trains and co-owns Keystone Brady, now five-for-six lifetime, with Chris Chambers. (The Meadows)

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