Last Sunday, Virginia-bred horses were well represented in a quartet of high quality allowance races and though none got to the winners circle, all four collected second place finishes in their events.
A pair of horses bred by the Corner Farm & John Behrendt collected their respective second place finishes at Parx and Santa Anita. Cat Fiftyfive, a 4 year old Tale of the Cat colt, collected his runner-up in a one mile, $54,000 allowance race while Georgia Blue, a Neil Drysdale trainee, earned second in a $56,000 maiden special weight race event. The former is conditioned by James Lawrence II and is out of the Secret Hello mare, Chemise, while the latter is a sophomore filly by Exchange Rate out of Senate Caucus by Siphon.
Maleeh, a 6 year old Indian Charlie horse, was a beaten favorite in a $69,000 allowance optional claiming race at Aqueduct. Bred by Edward Evans, the Kiaran McLaughlin trainee is out of the Gold Fever mare, Gold Mover. Queen Caroline completed the bridesmaid four pack with a second place finish in a $50,000 maiden special weight event at Gulfstream. Bred by the Morgan’s Ford Farm and trained by Michael Matz, the 3 year old filly is by Blame, out of the Forestry mare, Queens Plaza. She surprised after being sent off at odds of 32-1.
The day prior, Long On Value had a similar same fate in the $150,000 Canadian Turf Stakes (Gr. III) at Gulfstream. Trained by three time Virginia Derby winning conditioner Bill Mott, the 5 year old Value Plus horse was trying to repeat after a 1 3/4 length triumph in the 2015 edition. Out of the Orientate mare, Long Message, Long On Value came up 2 1/2 lengths shy this year, falling to Heart To Heart. He was bred by the Snow Lantern Thoroughbreds.
