Power of Titus rallies on rail to win Mackinac Handicap

Power of Titus had padded his resume with stakes-placed efforts in the past, but he still lacked a blacktype victory to cap it all off heading into Saturday’s $50,000 Mackinac Handicap at Pinnacle Race Course.

The Secret Romeo gelding finally earned his first stakes score with a driving trip down the rail in the mile and one sixteenth race for Michigan-bred three-year-old males.

Power of Titus broke in fourth and settled near the back of the pack as Hour By Hour took to the front from the outside, followed closely by Wiley Potts and post time favorite Meadow Magic. Hour By Hour rushed away with the lead heading into the first turn, about a length and a half ahead of Wiley Potts. The trailer worked his way to the leader’s outside hip heading into the backstretch, and the pair was about a length ahead of Bentley Red after a half mile in :48.02. Those margins held steady as the field passed in front of the barns.

Hour By Hour held a length and a half advantage over a tiring Wiley Potts heading into the final turn, as Meadow Magic made his move on the rail and Power of Titus began his charge from the back. Meadow Magic moved to the outside of Hour By Hour coming out of the turn and opened up the rail for a charging Power of Titus. The pair flanked Hour By Hour and swallowed up that rival at the top of the stretch. Power of Titus moved to the lead on the rail about a half length ahead of of Meadow Magic, who was several paths off the rail. Under the consistent right hand whip of jockey of Octavio Bernal, Power of Titus inched away from his foe to a 1 1/4 length victory. Dream Victory bid on the inside, and finished the best of the rest for third.

Power Of Titus completed the mile and one sixteenth race in 1:49.49 over a fast dirt surface. He was the betting public’s fourth choice at odds of 5.90-to-one.

Bred in Michigan by Guy and Deb Russell, Power of Titus is owned and trained by Del Waite.

The Mackinac was the second win of 13 starts for Power of Titus, and his first win in stakes company. He increased his career earnings to $66,128.

For an Equibase chart of the race, click here.

5 – Power of Titus (Octavio Bernal) 13.80 / 4.60 / 4.60
1 – Meadow Magic (Tommy Molina) 3.20 / 3.00
6 – Dream Victory (Ricardo Barrios) 4.80

One Mile and One Sixteenth
Time: 1:49.49

Jackson-saddled pair highlights Mackinac Handicap

Trainer James Jackson has had a solid hold on Michigan’s three-year-old male division in 2010.

Jackson reached the winner’s circle in the division’s two stakes races at Pinnacle Race Course this year, saddling Hour By Hour in the June 26 Lansing Stakes and Meadow Magic in the July 31 Dowling Stakes. He will try to keep that streak alive by sending the pair to the post in Saturday’s $50,000 Mackinac Handicap.

The Mackinac Handicap drew nine Michigan-bred three-year-old males to race at a mile and a sixteenth. Last year’s installment of the Mackinac was won by Perfect Start.

Dowling Stakes winner Meadow Magic will have the inside post in Saturday’s race. The Meadow Prayer gelding won the July 31 race by four lengths, capped off by an erratic trip down the stretch. He enters the Mackinac off a third place finish in an Aug. 17 allowance race at Presque Isle Downs. James Jackson trains Meadow Magic for Laura Jackson and Red Riding Hood Stable. Tommy Molina will be in the saddle for Saturday’s race.

Also coming out of the Jackson barn is Lansing Stakes winner Hour By Hour, who will start from the outside post. The Elusive Hour gelding won the Lansing with one of his signature front-running trips for a 2 3/4 length victory. Hour By Hour comes in off an unplaced finish in another Aug. 17 allowance race at Presque Isle. Augusto Marin will wear the colors of Laura Jackson in the Mackinac. James Jackson will saddle Hour By Hour.

Lansing Stakes runner-up Secrets Only is also entered in Saturday’s race. The Secret Romeo gelding enters the Mackinac off the field’s highest last-race Beyer figure, a 73, following an 8 3/4 length score in an Aug. 8 allowance contest at Pinnacle. Robert Gorham trains Secrets Only for owner Mast Thoroughbreds, LLC. Regular rider Jeffrey Skerrett retains the mount for the Mackinac.

#. Horse / Jockey / Trainer / Odds

1. Meadow Magic / T Molina / J R Jackson / 8-5
2. Got Your Nugget / A Hernandez-Lopez / P J Powers / 20-1
3. Wiley Potts / F Mata / R M Gorham / 15-1
4. Secrets Only / J Skerrett / R M Gorham / 6-1
5. Power Of Titus / O Bernal / D D Waite / 7-2
6. Dream Victory / R Barrios / J R Jackson / 12-1
7. Prince Of Paulie / J J Delgado / R J Rettele / 5-1
8. Bentley Red / A Pusac / D Cluley / 20-1
9. Hour By Hour / A A Marin / J R Jackson / 8-1

Baba Booyah, Perfect Start prevail in Michigan Sophomore Championships

Baba Booyah leads at all points in Michigan Oaks

Baba Booyah was never headed on her way to a half-length victory in Saturday’s $50,000 Michigan Oaks at Pinnacle Race Course.

The three-year-old Daylight Savings filly moved quickly to the rail and set an easy pace in the early goings, as City Tour chased from a length behind. The field stayed closely bunched across the backstretch with little change in positions as the opening half mile was set at :50.95.

Baba Booyah began to pick up the pace heading into the final turn, as did stablemate Moon Charmer, who quickly overtook City Tour for the second position. Moon Charmer, the post time favorite, began to pressure Baba Booyah through the turn, but she was turned away by the leader, who still held a length’s advantage heading into the stretch. The challenger continued to stage bids throughout the stretch and was repelled with each attempt. As the finish drew near, Moon Charmer began to gain significant ground on Baba Booyah, but could not beat the wire, as Baba Booyah held on for a 1/2 length victory under jockey Jeffrey Skerrett. A late-running Hakuna Matata finished 2 1/2 lengths behind Moon Charmer for third.

Baba Booyah completed the 1 1/16 mile race in 1:49.45 over a fast surface. She left the gates as the third choice at odds of 2.30-to-one.

Baba Booyah is trained by Bob Gorham for owner Marion Gorham. She was bred in Michigan by Todd and Carol Weddon. The Oaks victory was Baba Booyah’s third win from ten starts, as well as her first stakes triumph. The win increased Baba Booyah’s career earnings to $63,590.

For an Equibase chart of the race, click here.

5 – Baba Booyah (Jeffrey Skerrett) 6.60 / 3.20 / 2.20
4 – Moon Charmer (Federico Mata) 2.10 / 2.20
3 – Hakuna Matata (Angel Stanley) 2.10

1 1/16 Miles
Time:  1:49.45

Your winner, Baba Booyah (photo from a previous race).

Perfect Start overcomes troubled trip in Mackinac Handicap

During a conversation with Perfect Start’s owner Charlie Williams, he said the three-year-old Jump Start colt had the potential to be the best horse to run under his name.

Perfect Start took a major step toward fulfilling that prophecy with a pace-stalking victory in Saturday’s $50,000 Mackinac Handicap at Pinnacle Race Course.

Perfect Start stuck to the outside hip of early pacesetter Juggle as the field made its first pass under the wire and into the clubhouse turn, where he then moved inside to the rail. After trying to get around Juggle on the inside failed to produce results, jockey Alexis Ortiz moved Perfect Start sharply to the outside of his rival as the two battled across the backstretch.

As this was happening, Juggle began to accelerate heading into the final turn and quickly found himself used up on the lead. Perfect Start capitalized and overtook the leader in the turn. Post time favorite Meadow Wise also began to approach the front on the inside after a ground saving start. A length separated Perfect Start and Meadow Wise at the top of the stretch, as the challenger was urged to gain ground on the leader . However, Perfect Start continued to power ahead of his rival under a right hand whip and prevailed by 1 1/4 lengths. Romeo Again led the second wave of horses and finished four lengths behind Meadow Wise for third place. Early leader Juggle faded to last.

The 1 1/16 mile race was completed in 1:47:87 over a fast surface. Perfect Start raced at final odds of 5.10-to-one.

Perfect Start is homebred in Michigan by Charlie Williams and trained by Sandra Adkins. With the victory in the Mackinac, Perfect Start improved his lifetime record to three wins in six starts and notched his first stakes win in the process. His career earnings now total $49,570.

For an Equibase chart of the race, click here.

2 – Perfect Start (Alexis Ortiz) 12.20 / 5.00 / 4.20
8 – Meadow Wise (Angel Stanley) 3.20 / 2.60
6 – Romeo Again (Federico Mata) 3.60

1 1/16 Miles
Time: 1:47.87

Your winner, Perfect Start (photo from a previous race).

Michigan Sophomore Championships Preview

Ann Arbor trio gets rematch in Michigan Oaks

Hakuna Matata leads a field of five to the gates in Saturday's Michigan Oaks at Pinnacle Race Course.

After a disputed finish shuffled the positions of the top three finishers in the Ann Arbor Stakes, the same trio will try to settle the score in Saturday’s 1 1/16 mile, $50,000 Michigan Oaks at Pinnacle Race Course.

The situation stems from the stretch drive of the Aug. 1 stakes race, where Moon Charmer repeatedly bothered stablemate Baba Booyah as they dueled for the lead. Baba Booyah was eventually forced to check and faded to third behind a late-surging Hakuna Matata.

The beneficiary of the change in positions was Hakuna Matata. The Meadow Prayer filly closed from well behind to cross the line second in the Ann Arbor, her last start, and was elevated to first following the stewards’ ruling. Angel Stanley will ride Hakuna Matata for owner White Lake Farms, Inc. and trainer Larry Uelmen.

An overly physical stretch drive sent Baba Booyah spiraling from a potential stakes victory to a fading third place finish. After the race, she was moved up to second. Baba Booyah enters the Michigan Oaks off a 3/4 length victory in an Aug. 14 allowance race at Pinnacle. The Daylight Savings filly is trained by Bob Gorham for his sister, Marion Gorham. Jeffrey Skerrett will have the assignment.

The offending party in the Ann Arbor, Moon Charmer, is also entered in Saturay’s race. The Indian Charlie filly was taken down to third in her last stakes effort, also her most recent start, after finishing 1 1/4 lengths ahead of her next closest rival. Moon Charmer is owned by Mast Thoroughbreds LLC and trained by Bob Gorham. She will be ridden by Federico Mata.

#. Horse / Jockey / Trainer / Odds

1. City Tour / J J Delgado / S M Spiess / 20-1
2. Flint / A A Marin / J R Jackson / 20-1
3. Hakuna Matata / A O Stanley / L R Uelmen / 8-5
4. Moon Charmer / F Mata / R M Gorham / 5-2
5.  Baba Booyah / J Skerrett / R M Gorham / 6-5

Gorham sends out three in Mackinac Handicap

Juggle is one of the three horses entered by trainer Bob Gorham and owner Mast Thoroughbreds, LLC in Saturday's Mackinac Handicap at Pinnacle Race Course.

So far, Michigan’s three-year-old male division has literally been a two-horse race.

In the division’s two stakes races in 2009, stablemates Meadow Wise and Juggle have locked horns when the race was on the line. The pair figure to do the same in Saturday’s $50,000 Mackinac Handicap at Pinnacle Race Course.

Meadow Wise holds a two-to-one advantage over Juggle in the head-to-head matchup, and is only a nose in the June 13 Lansing Stakes away from having the sweep. In their most recent meeting, the July 25 Dowling Stakes, Meadow Wise prevailed by 1 1/4 lengths. The Meadow Prayer gelding enters Saturday’s 1 1/16 mile race off a win by a nostril’s margin in an Aug. 7 allowance race at Pinnacle. Bob Gorham trains Meadow Wise for Mast Thoroughbreds LLC.

After leading the Dowling for all but the final strides, Juggle will look to even the series against his stablemate. The Elusive Hour colt gave way near the wire and was passed by a late-moving Romeo Again for the second place spot. He will be ridden by Jeffrey Skerrett in the Mackinac.

Juggle is owned and trained by the same connections as Meadow Wise, but they will compete as separate entries. The Mast/Gorham connection will also send out Reasontobefoolish, who enters off a victory in a $5,000 claiming event.

The horse who nipped Juggle at the wire for the runner-up spot in the Dowling, Romeo Again, is also entered in Saturday’s race. The Secret Romeo gelding stalked the lead pack and got up to take second by a head. He enters the Mackinac off a fifth place finish in an Aug. 7 allowance race at Presque Isle Downs. Romeo Again is owned by Lisa Campbell and II B’s Thoroughbreds. Ronnie Allen, Sr. trains Romeo Again, and will give jockey Federico Mata the leg up in Saturday’s race.

#. Horse / Jockey / Trainer / Odds

1. Juggle / J Skerrett / R M Gorham / 6-1
2. Perfect Start / A Ortiz / S M Adkins / 7-2
3. Run Up The Score / J J Delgado / J R Jackson / 15-1
4. Reasontobefoolish / G Laurente / R M Gorham / 20-1
5. Jangle / A A Marin / D R Barron / 20-1
6. Romeo Again / F Mata / R D Allen, Sr. / 5-1
7. Scrimpy / R Barrios / J R Jackson / 8-1
8. Meadow Wise / A O Stanley / R M Gorham / 6-5