A trio of horses with six digit bankrolls — two Virginia-bred and one Virginia-owned, all gave their connections a memorable Memorial Day holiday by adding another chapter to their resumes.
Code West made his first start of 2016 a thriller, edging Domain’s Rap by a neck at the wire in the 1 1/16th miles, $65,000 Jim Rasmussen Memorial Stakes at Prarie Meadow. The 6 year old son of Lemon Drop Kid, bred by Edward Evans, entered the stretch three wide with jockey Israel Ocampo up top. Code West offered a good response, dueled with the eventual runner-up and crossed first in 1:44.16. The upset victor, out of the Saint Ballado mare, Charitabledonation, paid $24.40. It was his first win since a Governor’s Cup Stakes victory at Remington Park in August, 2014. A year earlier, he earned second in the Grade II Risen Star. Code West now has a bankroll of $560,283 from 5 wins, 9 seconds and 4 thirds.
Disco Barbie, who has had top three finishes in four different graded stakes, collected her first win of the year Monday in a 5 1/2 furlong, $33,000 allowance sprint at Presque Isle. The Dale Capuano trainee pressed the pace early between mares, split her rivals in the stretch and took the lead for good approaching the final 1/8th mark. The 6 year old daughter of Pure Prize beat six others as betting favorite and crossed in 1:03.70. Disco Barbie is owned by Diane Manning and is out the Grand Slam mare, Cimmaron Lady. With the win, her bankroll soared to the $381,536 mark. Her goal later this year is to compete in the Grade 2 Presque Isle Masters Stakes, a race she finished second in two years ago.
Titan Alexander found his comfort level again in allowance company Monday at Mountaineer Park and scored a one length triumph, his third straight in that class. The 6 year old Not For Love gelding sandwiched a 6th in the Maryland Million Classic Stakes and a 4th in the Bert Allen Stakes between those allowance successes, all of which have come at Mountaineer. Bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin, Titan Alexander started mid pack in Monday’s $18,000, seven furlong test, rallied four wide in the upper stretch and edged away late to cross in 1:21.64. Out of the Cherokee Colony mare, Fabulous Fame, the Jeff Runco trainee has earned $114,130 from 20 career outs.
