Although all participants in the $4,000 claiming series could have entered anywhere from $4,000-$6,000, only one took advantage: Tracys Song.
The 8-year-old Astreos mare in rein to Bruce Aldrich, Jr. left the gate like a runner and easily grabbed command on the first turn. From there Tracys Song passed the first stanza in :28.3 and after Aldrich allowed Sixth Sense (Mike Forte) to fall in behind him he just let his mare roll.
With no foreseeable challenges being made, Tracys Song paced the middle half of the mile in 1:00.3 and then cruised through a :29.3 final quarter en route to an easy two length triumph in a credible time of 1:58.4 over the soft racetrack. Sixth Sense held on for second with Fortunes Smile getting the show dough for Kyle DiBenedetto.
Tracys Song won her fifth consecutive race after a fourth-place finish in her first seasonal start. Owned by Nancy Fugure, she paid $3.80 for win.
Trainer Bob Lounsbury was undaunted with Tracys Song having to start from the eight hole and with good reason.
“We put her (Tracys Song) in for $6,000 today, and ya’ know, we never had a problem with her starting on the far outside today,” he said. “During the past two weeks she started each time on the outside (post seven) and won both races. She’s really good right now and I guess they’ll all be gunning for us in the final.”
Unlike the relative romp in the first division, the second split was a barn-burner with a proverbial cavalry charge to the finish line. The photo finish camera was needed to determine the winner when Romi Mystic and driver Jimmy Marohn, Jr. rallied up the passing lane, but their charge fell short as the pacesetter Winsmith Molly and Jimmy Taggart, Jr. held strong for a short head triumph. The final time was 2:00.1. Third place went to Biding Her Time, with Jimmy Devaux aboard.
It was the second consecutive Name Your Price Series victory for Winsmith Molly, a 6-year-old Badlands Hanover mare owned by Dr. Scott Woogen, Brenda Messenger and Phil Shapiro. Trained by Gary Messenger, Winsmith Molly paid $9.50 in the field that included two stable entries.
Next Monday the top point earners in the series will vie for a $4,000 added purse. Should there be enough entries, a $3,000 consolation will also be presented.