The eliminations for the Fall Final Four continued on Saturday.
First on the card was a $20,000 elimination for the $413,000 Governor’s Cup with a field of eight.
Boston Red Rocks, the Breeders Crown winner, was sent off as the 4-5 favorite, but he was left with a lot of ground to make up into the stretch. Big Top Hanover (Western Ideal- Blind Ambition) did not face the same obstacle as he sat the pocket behind the lone speed of Spider Man Hanover through swift fractions of 28, 55 and 1:22.2, before pulling the pocket and sprinting to the lead late, winning in 1:51. Boston Red Rocks made up as much ground as he could, but could not catch the winner and had to settle for the runner-up spot. Spider Man Hanover saved the show spot after setting strong fractions. Pretty Boy Hill and Show The Fashion completed the five that advanced to the Final.
The other Governor’s Cup elimination was a wide open race on paper with a competitive and well-balanced field of eight. Katies Rocker grabbed the racetrack right off the gate and never looked back. Sent to the lead as the 4-1 second choice from post eight, Katies Rocker reeled off fractions of 27.2, 56.3 and 1:24.2 before turning home with the lead where he faced a stiff challenge up the pylons from Jk Will Power. The pair hit the wire together, but it was Katies Rocker (Rocknroll Hanover-Just Wait Kate) who held on by the slimmest of margins, stopping the clock in 1:52.1. Ideal Rocky was third, followed by Autotune Hanover and Check Six who all qualified for the final.
The first $20,000 Valley Victory elimination went to Waitlifter K in a wire to wire upset for Tim Tetrick who said in a post race interview that “he has always had talent, sometimes he is good and sometimes he makes you scratch your head and tonight he was really good.” Waitlifter K completed the mile in 1:54.1, a new lifetime mark for the Muscles Yankee- Treasure Forever colt. The winner is a homebred of Bob Key and is trained by Chuck Sylvester. Milligan’s School, Marion Marauder, Mavens Way and Mikkeli Hanover also advanced to the $489,400 Valley Victory Final.
Chuck Sylvester wasn’t done, as his Matron winner, Dog Gone Lucky scored in the second elimination in 1:55.2. with Corey Callahan. Dog Gone Lucky trotted up after Lagerfeld as the field turned for home and set sail for the wire while opening up willingly. The trotter that really caught the eye in the stretch was Make Or Miss who was far back at the top of the stretch and simply exploded through the lane to the tune of 27.1 final quarter to finish a fast closing second. The final quarter was a full second faster than the next fastest last quarter, which belonged to the winner, Dog Gone Lucky (Lucky Chucky-Ebbtide Hall). Lagerfeld, Taco Tuesday and Treasure Keys K completed the five headed to the Final. The winner is owned by Amy Lynn Stoltzfus and Charles Stansley.
Live racing returns on Friday, November 20. Featured on the program are the $200,000 TVG Mare Pacing and Trotting Championships as well as the Three Diamonds and Goldsmith Maid Finals. Post time is 7 p.m.