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Racehorse Photo |
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Martiniontherocks posted an upset in the 2-year-old Filly Trot, winning
at 30-1 in 1:57. |
Martiniontherocks, owned
by Ecurie Synergie of Quebec, Canada, set the stakes record on a
five-eighths-mile track, winning in 1:57. Peace Corps held the previous record
of 1:57.1.
Pierce sent
Martiniontherocks toward the lead from post eight, and she was able to take the
front past an opening quarter in :28.3. A few of the fillies broke stride early,
leaving Martiniontherocks with an easy lead past the half-mile pole in :59.2.
Favored Fitness Girl and
Tim Tetrick ranged up on the final turn but tucked in behind the leader, who had
plenty left off three-quarters in 1:28.2. Angelette Hanover, at 33-1, nailed
second to round out boxcar exotics. Fitness Girl finished third.
Martiniontherocks,
trained by R. Dustin Jones, is an Ontario-bred filly by Conway Hall out of the
Self Possessed mare Inspired Society. She was bred by Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz
and Sam Goldband.
Pierce, who won his
second consecutive Crown event on the evening, said he simply asked the filly
for early trot and crossed over to the front. It didn’t take much more than that
in a race in which five of nine starters went off stride.
Martiniontherocks
finished second in her elimination Oct. 1 at Pocono and had shown nothing but
good form in her eight career starts. She was one of a few of the starters that
had consistently showed early trot and an ability to trot a solid final quarter.
“This filly caught my eye
about five weeks ago,” Pierce said. “She had been well within herself and
finished up good. Dustin Jones is a tremendous trainer; he does a very good job.”
Pierce said he wasn’t
surprised by the trip his filly got given the breaks.
“Two-year-old trotting
fillies tend to do that,” he said. “It’s no surprise.”
Martiniontherocks now has
four wins in nine starts, with two seconds and two thirds. Her earnings now top
$400,000.
Pocono Downs
