The race came down to the top two horses at the finish, with only Desert Alley and the Miguel Silva trained Clear to Canada, who had 5 and ½ lengths on Gordon Drive, in the running. “He is better off at 5 ½ but he held on.” The finish left trainer Tony Rengstorf pleased but shaking his head, owner Bonnie Baskin delighted and Dean Butler the rider on another winning stake horse.ĭesert Alley, the only Minnesota-bred in the race, led from gate to wire, desperately withstanding Clear to Canada in the final 100 yards to win by a length. “He only has four horses but he takes such good care of them and has them so ready.” “He’s one of the best trainers I’ve ridden for,” Stevens said. He also rode John Bullit at one point during his career.īut the credit according to Stevens belongs to winning trainer Stanley Mankin. He won the 2,000th and 4,000th races of his career in the John Bullit. Derek Bell, also a Hall of Famer, is the only other rider with four John Bullit wins.įor Stevens, though, there is another special attachment to this race.
He also rode Tiganello in 2008 and Trying Brian in 2009. The win was the fifth in the John Bullit for Stevens, who was aboard Doc Hollywood in the inaugural running in 1996 and on Sharman the next year. Wild Jacob caught fire approaching the final sixteenth and finished two lengths in front of Edgerin J and 2 and ½ in front of multiple stakes winning Stachys. Still, the $50,000 John Bullit for 2012 attracted out of state and local talent that made Stevens’ horse Wild Jacob an outside choice at 5-1 over the mile and 1-16th distance on the turf. Granted he was riding the defending champion, and granted he was riding a horse conditioned by a man he calls the consummate trainer. Once again, Stevens found a way to win a race against long odds. Maybe the John Bullit Stakes is a misnomer, maybe the name should be altered to somehow include the name Scott Stevens because the Canterbury Park Hall of Fame rider has a hold on this race. There was also the first helium-called race in thoroughbred history, with announcer Paul Allen breathing from a helium balloon during parts of the race. Oh, yes, and the Ostrich dash, won by veteran rider Derek Bell, riding a bird for the first time in his career. Extreme day had something for everyone on Saturday, and everyone totaled 16,071 patrons on hand to watch Red Hot Zoomer win one of the shortest races in track history, Wild Jacob repeat as John Bullit champion, the mayor of Shakopee win another race, this time on a camel, and a one-eyed horse steal the HBPA Sprint Stakes.
0 kommentar(er)
