October 10 racing highlights: The Struth and nothing but the Struth
In the Fairway won the Frank Gall Memorial Stakes at Charles Town on Saturday. Photo by Coady Photography.
From Staff Reports
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: Struth snaps losing skid
Fitzhugh LLC’s Struth, winless with four seconds from five previous tries at Laurel Park, swept to the lead on the far turn and outran 19-1 long shot Negrito down the stretch to capture Sunday’s featured eighth race.
It was the second win of the day for trainer Mike Trombetta and second straight feature victory at Laurel for jockey Luis Garcia after leading John Jones to his third consecutive triumph on Saturday.
Garcia got the call in the second-level $45,000 optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up, his first aboard Struth, who returned from nearly 19 months between races with an allowance win May 26 at historic Pimlico Race Course. He was second in three straight races, beaten a total of five lengths, before finishing fifth going a mile Sept. 16.
“I know he’s a really nice horse. The only issue is that he does get out a little bit so you have to be gentle with him,” Garcia said. “I don’t really know him so I just tried my best. Right when we got to the quarter pole I thought we were home because when I tapped him on the shoulder he just started running.”
Struth menaced pace-setting Heliskier through a quarter-mile in 23.28 seconds until taking over after a half in 46.65 chased by Negrito with Blu Moon Ace in close pursuit. Struth straightened for home with the lead on the outside and was strong in dismissing Negrito late, hitting the wire in 1:10.30 for six furlongs over a fast main track.
Favored at 7-5 in a field of seven, Struth returned $4.80 to win. Right Squall came running late to catch Blu Moon Ace for third.
[su_divider top=”no” style=”double” divider_color=”#0b0c0c” size=”1″]BY THE NUMBERS: Handle
- Laurel Park: $1,617,269
- Parx Racing: $1,094,042
TODAY’S ACTION
- Tracks in action: Delaware Park, Parx Racing
- City Siren (5-2) has had two races on the main track and owns two wins by a combined total of almost nine lengths. The sophomore City Zip filly makes her fourth career start, third on the dirt, today at Delaware Park in a second-level allowance in which she is favored. The Linda Rice trainee will have Carol Cedeno — romping home as leading rider at the meet — in the irons. Major competitors in this $38,000 test include the improving Hazel Eyed Girl (7-2), who won nicely last out in her first try for Jamie Ness, and a pair from the Mac Robertson barn in Beach Flower (9-2) and Ball and Chain (6-1).
- A full field is scheduled to line up for Parx Racing’s sixth race, a $75,000 maiden special weight test going a mile on the turf. Tom Proctor trainee Compelled (5-2) has finished third in each of her first two races — at Saratoga and Belmont — and is favored here, with Ashley Castrenze in the irons. Among the rivals she’ll contend with are Spanker (4-1), a David Cannizzo trainee who was beaten a length in her debut, at Saratoga, and may appreciate stretching out from a sprint distance; and Silver Slivers (5-1), trained by Michael Gorham, a runner who was second on debut, at Delaware Park.
