Fearles Fred will shoot for his sixth win in seven starts at Mount Pleasant Meadows in Sunday's Don Boyd Memorial Challenge Handicap.
A combination of new shippers, regulars and horses making a homecoming to Mount Pleasant Meadows will try to win the final race of the track’s 2010 meet in Sunday’s $15,000 Don Boyd Memorial Challenge Handicap.
Four of the seven Quarter Horses entered in the 350 yard race for three-year-olds and up will make their first start at Mount Pleasant for 2010. Many of those horses will race in Michigan for the first time.
The platoon of newcomers is led by Ethics Aside, who comes to Michigan from the Louisiana circuit after a brief stop at Indiana Downs. The four-year-old Mr Jess Perry horse enters the race off an unplaced finish in a June 25 allowance race at Indiana, hampered by a stumbled start. Before heading north, Ethics Aside finished sixth by just a length and a half in the May 22 Bank Of America East Championship Challenge at Delta Downs. Rolando Almanza trains Ethics Aside for owner Jorge Luis Gonzalez. Oscar Delgado will be in the irons for Sunday’s race.
Heading up the Mount Pleasant-based contingent is Fearles Fred. The three-year-old Fredricksburg gelding has defended his home turf well, sporting a five-for-six record at Mount Pleasant, in addition to a victory in last October’s All American Quarter Horse Congress Futurity at Beulah Park. Fearles Fred enters Sunday’s race off a runner-up finish in the July 3 Indiana Live Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana Derby at Indiana Downs. Regular rider Richard Rettele will have the mount aboard Fearles Fred for owner Walter Harrison and trainer Carol Rettele.
A former Rettele charge making his return to Mount Pleasant is Hez Fastforthecash. The four-year-old Heza Fast Man gelding won or hit the board in stakes races at Mount Pleasant, Beulah Park and Hialeah Park in his last three starts. Most recently, he finished third in the Jan. 17 Sawgrass Stakes at Hialeah. Lee Gates will have the assignment aboard Hez Fastforthecash for owner Rogelio Martinez and trainer Rolando Almanza.
#. Horse / Jockey / Trainer / Odds
1. Ethics Aside / O Delgado / R Almanza / 1-1
2. Eight Below 123 / N Alcala / J Hall / 3-1
3. Royal Wicked / G Garrido / R Almanza / 15-1
4. Alley Rose 123 / A Keller / J Hall / 6-1
5. Hez Fastforthecash / L Gates / R Almanza / 2-1
6. Zoom N Crash / J F Delgado / A F Cunningham / 9-1
7. Fearles Fred / R Rettele / C Rettele / 2-5
The Michigan-Bred Claimer 