HAWTHORNE
A pair of $50,000 route stakes closed out the spring stakes season at Hawthorne yesterday.
In the Milwaukee Avenue Handicap for Illinois bred colts and geldings going a mile and a sixteenth over the main track, the two top choices in the betting proved to be much the best.
The 4/5 favorite, I’ve Got It All was out swiftly but was pressured through most of the first half of the race by Valiant City. Into the far turn, Valiant City faded out of contention and second choice Luv Bandit came calling. The two favorites battled down the lane and as Luv Bandit began to pull away he drifted out and appeared to impede I’ve Got It All but at that point it was all over but the shouting and Luv Bandit survived the objection, giving owner William Stiritz and trainer Scott Becker another stakes victory on the season, covering the distance in 1:43.50.
Luv Bandit $6.40 $2.40 $2.20
I’ve Got It All $2.20 $2.20
Lahshad $3.80
Stiritz and Becker were at it again on the distaff side two races later as Rosie My Rosie under Santo Sanjur saved ground throughout the race before swinging to the outside, tracking down front running Our Domain and powered trough the wire to take the Peach of It Handicap by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:44.62.
Rosie My Rosie $6.80 $3.40 $2.80
Our Domain $3.80 $3.00
Prairie Vista $5.40
PRAIRIE MEADOWS
As Hawthorne was wrapping up their spring season, Prairie Meadows was gearing up, sending eight 3-year old fillies to post for the $75,000 Goldfinch Stakes.
Odds on favorite I’m Working On It did not disappoint. While long shot Royal Song Dance battled for the lead down the back stretch and put away the challenge of Aggressive Beauty, she was no match for the favorite. I’m Working On It caught Royal Song Dance in the lane when Alex Birzer asked her to go and put away the field by a widening 3 lengths, covering the six furlongs in 1:10.85. The Indiana bred filly ran her career record to an undefeated 3-0 notching her first stakes victory.
I’m Working On It $3.60 $2.80 $2.20
Royal Song Dance $9.80 $8.20
Easter Indy $5.40
FONNER PARK
Long shot Tranarchy dominated the $25,000 Fonner Special Stakes for Nebraska bred 3-year olds from start to finish. He darted to the lead under Mike Ziegler from the outside post and never looked back at 12-1, closing out the field by 4 lengths covering the six furlongs in 1:15.60.
The signature race of the meet, the $75,000 Bosselman/Gus Fonner Stakes, was contested on Saturday over the second to last weekend of racing at the Grand Island oval.
Second choice Joy Boy broke took command early and appeared to be well on his way to dominating the race until Diamond Joe loomed up beside Joy Boy heading into the lane. Poised to get passed and defeated late, Joy Boy dug deep and, despite falling a half length behind, fought back gamely and was able to draw off and win by two. The Kellyn Gorder trainee covered the mile and sixteenth in 1:46.46 over the muddy track under Jake Olesiak.
Joy Boy $6.80 $3.60 $2.40
Diamond Joe $5.40 $2.80
Doctor Peter $2.20
