Charlies Fire outlasts rivals in soph fillies Sire Stakes

Charlies Fire kept a good day going for owner Lisa Campbell and jockey Federico Mata with a front-running score in the three-year-old fillies division of Saturday’s $50,000 Michigan Sire Stakes at Pinnacle Race Course.

The Fire Blitz filly shot to the front on the rail and battled with Cute Creation and De La Crem for the lead as the field passed under the wire for the first time. Charlies Fire led by a length heading into the first turn with Cute Creation on her outside hip, but the leader quickly put several lengths between herself and her foe through the bend. The margin between first and second was three lengths as the field entered the backstretch.

Charlies Fire kept a multiple length cushion between herself and the rest of the pack across the backstretch that dwindled to about a length and a half heading into the final turn. Cute Creation and Fully Exposed continued to chase Charlies Fire through the bend, while Run with Rachel was in pursuit on the rail. Charlies Fire was flanked on the hips by Run With Rachel on the inside and Cute Creation on the outside at the top of the stretch, but responded to urging by jockey Federico Mata and repelled her challengers. She continued to power down the stretch under Mata’s steady right hand whip, as Run With Rachel tried in vain to make up the distance.

Charlies Fire won the Sire Stakes by a length and a half. Run With Rachel finished second, 5 3/4 lengths ahead of Cute Creation.

The final time for the mile and one sixteenth race was 1:49.58 over a fast dirt track. She was the race’s post time favorite at odds of 1.90-to-one.

Charlies Fire was bred in Michigan Ronald Allen, Sr. and Felica Allen. She is owned by Lisa Campbell and trained by Patrick White.

The Sire Stakes was Charlies Fire’s third win from four starts, and her first blacktype score. Her lifetime earnings now total $46,190.

For an Equibase chart of the race, click here.

1 – Charlies Fire (Federico Mata) 5.80 / 5.40 / 3.00
5 – Run with Rachel (Ricardo Barrios) 9.00 / 4.00
4 – Cute Creation (Jorge Collazo, Jr.) 4.20

One Mile and One Sixteenth
Time:  1:49.58

This Cats On Fire wires juvenile fillies Sire Stakes

This Cats On Fire took straight to the front and never surrendered the lead to win Saturday’s $50,000 juvenile fillies division of the Michigan Sire Stakes at Pinnacle Race Course.

The two-year-old Fire Blitz filly was bumped coming out of the gate, but was quickly hustled to the lead on the outside. She led by a length and a half ahead of Harlan Trace and Evil Secret across the backstretch as she angled in closer to the rail. Harlan Trace left Evil Secret behind heading into the turn and chased the leader on her outside hip throughout the bend.

This Cats On Fire had a length on Harlan Trace exiting the turn, as post time favorite Paris Prayer began her charge from the back of the pack. The leader distanced herself from her rival, who was herself facing a charge down the middle of the track from Paris Prayer. However, neither foe could match This Cats On Fire’s momentum, as she crossed the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front. Paris Prayer got up for second, a neck ahead of Harlan Trace.

This Cats On Fire stopped the clock for the six furlong race in 1:13.53 on a fast dirt surface under jockey Ronald Allen, Jr.. She went off as the field’s second choice at odds of two-to-one.

Homebred in Michigan by Lisa Campbell and Campbell Stable, This Cats On Fire was saddled by Patrick White. Her career record now stands at two wins from three starts, with one score in stakes company, for earnings of $42,414.

For an Equibase chart of the race, click here.

8 – This Cats On Fire (Ronald Allen, Jr.) 6.00 / 3.00 / 2.40
2 – Paris Prayer (Tommy Molina) 2.40 / 2.40
4 – Harlan Trace (Angel Stanley) 3.00

Six Furlongs
Time: 1:13.53

Romeo Again rallies in Michigan Breeders’ Cup Handicap

Romeo Again reeled in his rivals down the stretch to win Saturday’s $20,000 Michigan Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Pinnacle Race Course.

The Secret Romeo gelding was unhurried on the rail by jockey Federico Mata as post time favorite Meadow Wise took the early lead, followed closely by Perfect Start. Meadow Wise entered the turn with about a length over Perfect Start. The pair opened up three lengths on third place Romeo Again, but set a leisurely opening half mile at :50.19 seconds. Meadow Wise held off Perfect Start across the backstretch, but the Perfect Start took to the rail and drew even with the leader heading into the final turn, four lengths ahead of Romeo Again in third.

Perfect Start and Meadow Wise dueled throughout the bend and entered the top of the stretch neck and neck. Meanwhile, Romeo Again had chipped away from his margin behind the lead duo and prepared to make a three-wide move on the outside. Meadow Wise, out of gas, faded quickly down the stretch, leaving Perfect Start and a rapidly gaining Romeo Again to battle for the last 100 yards. Under left-handed urging from Mata, Romeo Again got up in the final strides to beat Perfect Start by a half length. Bishop Casey made a late bid for third place.

Romeo Again completed the one mile race in 1:48.06 on a fast dirt surface. He left the gates as the longest price in the field at odds of 4.90-to-one.

Romeo Again was homebred in Michigan by Felicia Campbell/Campbell Stables and also owned by II B’s Thoroughbred. He was saddled by Patrick White.

With the win in Saturday’s race, Romeo Again improved his career record to four wins from 16 career starts, including two wins in stakes company. His earnings now total $75,193.

For an Equibase chart of the race, click here.

2 – Romeo Again (Federico Mata) 11.80 / 6.20
3 – Perfect Start (Alexis Ortiz) 6.40
1 – Bishop Casey (Tommy Molina)

One Mile
Time: 1:48.06