Tigger Town broke beautifully under jockey Heribert Martinez and settled into an easy stride, going the opening quarter in :23.12 and a half mile in 47.02 seconds. Cafeine Cowboy chased him early on, but as they ran to the final turn, Tigger Town started to inch away and opened up nearly three lengths at the top of the lane. Aces Again, who has been a tough long shot as of late, came running once again and tried to make it close, but the wire came up in time for Tigger Town who held on to win by half a length. Aces Again was second, nearly three lengths ahead of Saintly Aura who ran third. Catchtheconnection could only manage fourth as the clear-cut second choice in the wagering.
It was the third career win from just ten starts for Tigger Town, who pushed his earnings up over $61,000 for owner Jill Lindell. Tigger Town was trained to the victory by Greg Tracy.
Bud Time makes it three out of four with win in Friday Feature at Northlands
Bud Time has enjoyed a mighty fine season at Northlands Park this year, and he added another win to his tally on Friday night in the 7th race. An open $8,000 claiming event with a purse of $10,000, Bud Time won his third race of the year.
Sent off at odds of 5/1, Bud Time and Mario Velazquez found themselves chasing Rise To Glory early on who went out and set a very slow pace in the one mile event. Rise To Glory and Shannon Beauregard were able to slow it down early on, getting a quarter in :25.03 and a half mile in :50.07. Velazquez sensed that slow pace and pushed Bud Time up alongside of Rise To Glory and those two battled on the turn. Bud Time started to edge away though, as he opened up through the stretch to win by two and a half lengths. Stopped Short got up for second as the heavy favorite while Rise To Glory finished third.
It was the sixth career victory for Bud Time who also has fourteen second place finishes on his resume from thirty five career starts. He’s owned by Almac Racing Stables and was trained to the victory by Rick Hedge.
Anyone order up a long shot?
Northlands Park players who like to go against the favorites and shoot for the moon with their gambles might have had a big week. Seemed like every other race there was a double digit win payout on the board. Six of the twenty eight races this week were won by horses of odds of 10/1 or higher, including a pair of 30/1 shots, as Horizonbound paid $65.30 for a win on Saturday afternoon and Rojano Dancer paid $63.30 in the Saturday opener.
The week got off to an upset start, when the first two races on Wednesday night were won by 11/1 winners, yielding a Daily Double that paid $214.30. Early News ran second in the sixth race of the day, only missing by a length and a half at odds of 63/1! A $2 place bet on Early News got players back $45.20.
Friday Night even had it’s share of prices, but none were bigger than the sixth race. It was a wide open event with a full field of ten runners. White Snow took the lead early on and drew off to win at 7/1 odds. Ty’s Brooke at 5/1 run second and Smile Lee finished third at 7/1. Yet even with those three pretty logical horses, the Triactor paid a whopping $3,490! Only twenty cents worth of Superfecta winning tickets were paid out as well, with a $.20 payoff returning over $2,800!
Biggest Payoffs of the Week at Northlands Park 10/2—10/5
Biggest $2 Win Payout:
Race 7, 10/5/13 Horizonbound paid $65.30 to win
Biggest $2 Exactor:
Race 1, 10/5/13 Rojano Dancer/Sweet Dawn paid $1,088.60
Biggest $2 Triactor:
Race 6, 10/4/13 White Snow/Ty’s Brooke/Smile Lee paid $3,490.00
Biggest $1 Superfecta:
Race 6, 10/4/13 White Snow/Ty’s Brooke/Smile Lee/Jim N Pegs Gal paid $14,784.45!
Biggest $1 Pick 4:
10/4/13 races 4 thru 7 paid $2,848.05!!!
North American Racing News
Grade 1 Jamaica Stakes at Belmont
Winner: Up With the Birds
Jockey: Cornelio Velasquez
$2 Win pays: $10.20
Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont
Winner: Havana
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
$2 Win pays $7.20
Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont
Winner: Artemis Agrotera
Jockey: Jose Lezcano
$2 Win pays: $10.60
Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Champ. at Santa Anita
Winner: Points Offthebench
Jockey: Mike Smith
$2 Win pays: $11.20
Grade 1 Shadwell Turf at Keeneland
Winner: Silver Max
Jockey: Robby Albarado
$2 Win pays: $17.00
Grade 1 First Lady Stakes at Keeneland
Winner: Better Lucky
Jockey: Julien Leparoux
$2 Win pays: $11.60
Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland
Winner: We Miss Artie
Jockey: John Velazquez
$2 Win pays $21.80
Grade 2 Indiana Derby at Indiana Downs
Winner: Power Broker
Jockey: Martin Garica
$2 Win pays $5.40