Won The West edges Artistic Fella in Dan Patch Invitational

Won the West and driver Greg Grismore used a valiant stretch drive to overtake a field of nine opponents in the 15th edition of the $200,000 Dan Patch Invitational Pace Saturday, May 24. The duo crossed the finish line in a time of 1:50.0, their fastest effort in 2008.

Starting from the second tier in post 10, Won the West waited patiently as the race set up in front of him. Booze Cruzin and Sam Widger were the first to attack, reaching the lead easily by the quarter-mile marker in a time of :26.0. Down the backstretch, the field was hesitant to move on the leaders, with 2007 Dan Patch winner Artistic Fella being the first to edge to the outside from fifth. They flushed Western Shore and Jody Jamieson to the outside to receive the desired second-over journey at the halfway point in :54.4.

Around the turn, horses began to stack up for the final sprint. Won The West followed Artistic Fella into the lane. Although it took him a few strides to get in full gear, by the final sixteenth of the mile, he was in full flight, busting by Artistic Fella for the victory by only a neck. Booze Cruzin held on gamely for third.

“You never know what to expect when you start from the second tier,” said Grismore. “But everything pretty well set up as I expected tonight. When I was able to get out behind the favorite, Artistic Fella, I felt we had a good shot. If you can keep this horse up on a helmet, he’s really good in the stretch. It just worked out perfectly for us tonight.”

The victory for Grismore was his first in stakes action at Hoosier Park. It also marked win 4,999 for the Ohio native, who now concentrates his business on the East Coast, mainly at Yonkers Raceway.

“At the top of the lane, I felt we were in good position,” said Tetrick. “We just got beat by a better horse tonight. Hopefully, he (Artistic Fella) will get back to his original form. He’s very versatile, and an easy horse to drive.”

Trained by Mickey Burke, Won the West now has three wins in five outings for 2008. He increased his career earnings to nearly $700,000 with the victory. Strollin Stable, William J. Robinson, and James Koehler, all of Ohio, own the four-year-old son of Western Hanover.

“We got this horse (Won the West) at the beginning of his three-year-old year,” said Burke. “He has always shown a lot of speed and promise. After his race at the American National last year, we knew he had a lot of talent. I have to give all the credit to Brian Brown. He’s the one that got this horse going, and he was here tonight, so that makes it really nice.” (Hoosier Park)

« Back