Can Perfect Start keep his mojo going in the Lansing Stakes? Jockey T.D. Houghton takes the colt out on the track before his first start.
Following a convincing 5 1/2-length victory in his first start last Saturday, Perfect Start will look to parlay his success into a stakes win one week later in Saturday’s $50,000 Lansing Stakes at Pinnacle Race Course. The six furlong race is the first major test for Michigan-bred three-year-old colts and geldings at the Detroit racetrack.
Perfect Start is one of six horses in the field of seven coming off about a week’s rest after starts on opening weekend.
Owned by Charlie Williams and trained by Sandra Adkins, Perfect Start broke his maiden in his first start with a front-running effort at five furlongs. Based on his four straight bullet works at Pinnacle, announcer Matt Hook called the Jump Start colt a budding superstar in the post parade before his maiden win. T.D. Houghton will return from Mountaineer to take the assignment.
Also entered is allowance winner Juggle. The Elusive Hour colt also won his season opener, a five furlong allowance contest on opening day, by 5 1/2 lengths. The Robert Gorham-trained Juggle, owned by Mast Thoroughbreds LLC, finished third or better in three starts in his juvenile campaign, including a 6 3/4 maiden win and a third-place effort in the Michigan Sire Stakes two-year-old males division. He will be ridden by Jeffrey Skerrett.
Returning from a busy winter and spring is James Jackson trainee Scrimpy. Owned by Millenium Farms, the Scrimshaw colt spent his time away from Pinnacle on the Kentucky circuit, breaking his maiden at Turfway Park on Dec. 31. He comes off a sixth-place finish in a $32,500 claiming race at Arlington Park. Scrimpy will have Men Chen in the saddle.
Here is the full list of entries for Saturday’s Lansing Stakes…
#. Horse / Jockey / Trainer / Odds
1. Meadow Wise / A.O. Stanley / R. Gorham / 15-1
2. Perfect Start / T.D. Houghton / S. Adkins / 6-5
3. Red Bow Tie / I.R. Gonzalez / R. Rettele / 10-1
4. Elusive Furrari /R. Barrios / S. Adkins / 12-1
5. Juggle / J. Skerrett/ R. Gorham / 5-1
6. S S Victory / F. Mata / R. Gorham / 8-1
7. Scrimpy / M. B. Chen / J. Jackson / 3-1
PHOTO ACTION ALERT: It does not look like I will be able to make it to Pinnacle to see the race in person or get pictures. If anyone in attendance for the race would be kind enough to get a picture of the stretch drive and one of the winner and email them to me for the recap, I would be eternally grateful. Selected photos will be credited to the photographer (Don’t worry, I don’t play games with things like that) and if he or she has a personal website they would like me to link to, as long as it’s family friendly, I’ll be glad to do it. For an idea of what I am looking for click here or here. Thanks a bunch!
The Michigan-Bred Claimer 
Urban legend??
Mr Granholm is a lawyer whose clients include Detroit casinos????
I just got an email from Sen Jason Allen from the Petoskey area. He yakking about producing farm and agriculture jobs in Michigan so if everyone would take a moment to email him…senjallen@senate.michigan.gov… and ask him about what EXACTLY is going on with the horseracing industry in Michigan and if he doesn’t know would he please look into it. email your reps also.
An embarassment for Pinnacle today when the pick 5 carryover is listed?
In today’s 3rd # 5 Yawm Estoora is listed at 8/5 but with 3 up the track finishes at CT maybe she pays $8.00 as a cinch?
RG
Correction.
Didn’t know that was going to happen.
email senjallen@senate.michigan.gov
Ragman,
I’ve heard a lot of speculation on Gov. Granholm’s backroom ties to the casino industry. Actually, I kind of hope some of them are true so her actions would start making a little sense.
If these recent reports are true, I’ll have lots of newfound spare time to send emails and knock on some doors…
What was the carryover at Pinnacle last Saturday? 35 bucks? Yikes…