Meadow Wise gets breakthrough victory in Dowling Stakes
Meadow Wise (2x) drives to the wire to win the Dowling Stakes at Pinnacle Race Course.
After getting close in several stakes attempts but always coming up short, Meadow Wise finally earned a blacktype win in Saturday’s $20,000 Dowling Stakes at Pinnacle Race Course.
The three-year-old Meadow Prayer gelding took a wide path from the outside post in the early goings and sat in fifth as I Found Friday and Juggle pressed for the lead. Meadow Wise began his move near the end of the backstretch and had Juggle within his sights as the two entered the final straightaway. The stablemates did battle throughout the final two furlongs, with Meadow Wise drawing even in the middle of the stretch. He gained the advantage in the final hundred feet and pulled away to win the race by 1 1/4 lengths in a driving finish under jockey Angel Stanley. A late-closing Romeo Again nosed out Juggle for second.
Meadow Wise covered the one mile distance in 1:41.68 over a fast track. He was part of a three-horse entry sent off as the 1.80-to-one favorite.
Meadow Wise is owned by Mast Thoroughbreds, LLC and trained by Robert Gorham. He was bred in Michigan by James Arnold, Marcia Arnold and Deborah Miley. The Dowling was Meadow Wise’s second career victory from 10 starts, coming off a maiden triumph in his last effort. With the win, Meadow Wise increased his career earnings to $58,126.
For an Equibase chart of the race, click here.
2x – Meadow Wise (Angel Stanley) 5.60 / 2.80 / 3.20
1 – Romeo Again (Godofredo Laurente) 6.40 / 3.40
2b – Juggle (Jeffrey Skerrett) 3.20
One Mile
Time: 1:41.68
Your winner, Meadow Wise; Angel Stanley, up.
Happenedindamoonlite wins at long odds in Stallion Service Sale Futurity
Happenedindamoonlite (5) crosses the line ahead of I Do One Two Three (1) to win the GLQHA Stallion Service Sale Futurity at Mount Pleasant Meadows.
Perhaps it was an omen that the saddlecloths in Sunday’s $36,483 GLQHA Stallion Service Sale Futurity were all green, the color commonly associated with the number five horse.
Whatever it was, it did not cause any confusion when the race’s five horse, Happenedindamoonlite, pulled off the upset at odds of 11.10-to-one.
The two-year-old Jewels First Moon gelding broke well and established a small lead over the tightly-bunched pack heading into main stretch. Happenedindamoonlite and post time favorite I Do One Two Three gained a length’s separation from the field, but the leader never yielded and powered ahead to a half length victory under jockey Harold Collins. I Do One Two Three finished a half length ahead of late-moving Kit Corona for third.
Happenedindamoonlite stopped the clock in the 350 yard race at 17.840 seconds over a fast track.
Happenedindamoonlite is owned by Jack Geer and is trained by Ron Raper. He was bred in Michigan by First Moon Farms. The Stallion Service Sale Futurity victory was the gelding’s second win in four starts and increased his lifetime earnings to $22,401.
For an Equibase chart of the race, click here.
5 – Happenedindamoonlite (Harold Collins) 24.20 / 9.00 / 2.80
1 – I Do One Two Three (Julie Veltman) 260 / 2.10
3c – Kit Corona (Juan Delgado) 2.60
350 Yards
Time: 17.840 seconds
Your winner, Happenedindamoonlite; Harold Collins, up.
The Michigan-Bred Claimer 
That last picture is a classic!! Hot pink blinkers with black question mark: too funny! 🙂
It looks like Mast Thoroughbreds and Mr. Groham have two nice three year olds in the stable. I lean torwards Juggle more as my favorite, just something I like about that colt.
Valerie,
Those hot pink colors find themselves in the winner’s circle an awful lot on the midwest Quarter Horse scene. Ron Raper’s usually the leading trainer anywhere he goes. If anything else, they’re easy to pick out from a crowd.
Bill,
Mast and Gorham always seem to be loaded for bear when it comes to having good horses, don’t they? The third part of the entry, Reasontobefoolish, just missed taking home a chunk of the pot himself.
On paper, I agree Juggle has more big-time potential (Plus, I just have a good feeling about him too), but Meadow Wise has shown up to every dance and has never been off the board in a stakes race. To my knowledge, Juggle and Meadow Wise have faced each other three times and the latter actually holds the advantage…
2008 MI Sire Stakes:
Meadow Wise 2nd, 3/4 lengths over Juggle 3rd.
2009 Lansing Stakes:
Juggle 1st by a nose over Meadow Wise 2nd.
2009 Dowling Stakes
Meadow Wise 1st, 1 and about 1/3 lengths over Juggle 3rd.
Honestly, I didn’t realize Meadow Wise was a head bob away from having the sweep until I looked at the head to head in the program just now. Definitely one to keep an eye on.