Weekend Stakes Recap

Juggle hangs on to win Lansing Stakes

Juggle made an early statement in Michigan’s three-year-old colts and geldings division, holding off stablemate Meadow Wise to win by a nose in Saturday’s $50,000 Lansing Stakes at Pinnacle Race Course. The Elusive Hour colt dueled with post-time favorite Perfect Start for a half mile and pulled clear entering the stretch. Juggle then held off a late charge from Meadow Wise to win the race in 1:13.17 under jockey Jeffrey Skerrett. Longshot Red Bow Tie finished 2 1/2 lengths behind Meadow Wise for third. Perfect Start faded to fourth.

 Juggle, bred by E.D. Hubel and J.E. Hubel, increased his career earnings to $59,231. The winning exacta was owned by Mast Thoroughbreds LLC and trained by Robert Gorham. The Lansing Stakes was Juggle’s third win from five starts. He is two-for-two in 2009, winning an allowance race on Pinnacle’s opening day, June 5.

For a chart of the race, click here.

5 – Juggle (Jeffret Skerrett) 7.20/4.00/3.40
1 – Meadow Wise (Angel Stanley) 12.00/11.80
3 – Red Bow Tie (Ivan Gonzalez) 9.20

Six Furlongs
Time: 1:13.17 

Your winner, Juggle (photo taken from a previous race, though it is nice he kept the same number).
 

Dials Corona for Me powers clear in GLQHA MI-Bred Futurity

Dials Corona for Me (2b) holds off Happenedindamoonlite (6) to take the final (and yes, I blew the shot. I’m awful at getting quarter horse finishes with large fields).

Dials Corona For Me managed to avoid much of the commotion coming out of the gates to take Sunday’s $26,170 Great Lakes Quarter Horse Association Michigan-Bred Futurity by a half length at Mount Pleasant Meadows. The homebred two-year-old Corona for Me filly put a nose ahead of a tight pack coming into the stretch and pulled away as the wire drew near under jockey Oscar Delgado. Dials Corona for Me was joined in her late separation from the pack by Happenedindamoonlite, who finished 3/4 lengths ahead of Cc Cartel to take second in the 300-yard race.

Owned and trained by Tony Cunningham, Dials Corona for Me increased her career earnings to $12,317 with the win. The race was the filly’s first victory in three starts, following two third-place finishes earlier this year.

For a chart of the race, click here.

2b – Dials Corona for Me (Oscar Delgado) 6.00/3.20/2.60
6 – Happenedindamoonlite (Harold Collins) 5.40/2.60 
1c – Cc Cartel (Mike Holmes) 4.00

300 Yards
Time:  15.818 seconds

Your winner, Dials Corona for Me; Oscar Delgado, up.

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Speaking Michigan-breds in stakes races, 2008 Michigan Thoroughbred of the Year Valley Loot is entered the $75,000 Golden Sylvia Stakes at Mountaineer on Tuesday. Federico Mata gets the assignment (after riding several races at Pinnacle, nonetheless) aboard the second longest morning line choice at 8-1. Fellow 2008 Sire Stakes winner Bipolar Express is also entered in an allowance optional claimer earlier in the card.