UPDATE: Bud White sets new record in Premier's Cup victory! [Slideshow Included]
Maybe it was the heat, perhaps an air of sadness over the loss of Lake Texoma or possibly a combination of late starts, reluctant horses and malfunctioning gates that caused a general apathy, even when Bud White set a new record over the mile and 1/8th distance on the Downs.
The Feature Race, The Premier's Cup, for so long built up as an Olympian style matchup between Good Prospecting and Bud White started in controversy, when despite repeated efforts Twisted Dream would not enter the starting gate. Race Officials scratched him and while the arguments continued the gate opened and the remaining horses took off.
Good Prospecting leapt into an early lead, but Bud White is no slouch and was soon alongside the BVI’s number one horse before striding into a lead down the back straight he would never relinquish.
At the Posts the winning distance was a length and ¾’s and Bud White set a new Ellis Thomas Downs record over the distance with his time of 1: 54: 4, eclipsing Captain Slew who had run 1:56:4 back in 2008. The Alliance Point Stables and Trainer "Lulu" Smith also pocketed the $15,000 purse
Good Prospecting was second and Diablo’s Fire third.
The day got off to a good start with Blood in the Sand running a perfect race for owners Tiger and Sade Williams. Looking relaxed and easy to some in the crowd the horse cruised to victory in the Axel Ritter Classic to win the $3,500 purse. According to Trainer Derwin Williams Blood in the Sand ran exactly how he had planned “I bought the horse to run professionally” said Williams, “we set the plan and the jockey executed it perfectly”. The winning time was 1:30:00.
In the Monroe Thomas Memorial Race Queteparce Cholito owned by Leonard’s Mini Mart made a feisty debut on the track, but was unable to translate its eagerness into speed, finishing 3rd behind Formal King in second and the winner Mr. Gold Prospect. Owner, Jack Clendenin, along with trainer Dick Harrigan from St Thomas celebrated Jockey Juan Carlos Diaz’s second win in a row and picked up a $4,000 purse.
Race 3, the Allen “Tiger” Hodge Memorial was won by All Country out of the L and B stables. The horse and jockey timing their run to victory perfectly around the last bend in a time of 1:44:3. Tiger Glider who proved hard work to get into the gate and had to be “reloaded” after the gate opened on him prematurely finished second with Khun Dan third. All Country had been back in third at the half way mark but outsprinted the field to take the $4,500 purse.
The 4th race of the day, the Jerriel Thomas Memorial was won by Goodeveningofficer, who beat Out of Wine in the two horse race, over 1 mile, to pocket the $6,500 purse after Miss Tequilla was scratched. The winning time was 1:46:1.
The BVI Sprint Classic was won by Edwin Gonzalez on Really Uptown, giving L and B its second win and a purse of $7,500. The winning time for the 6 ½ furlong race was 1:20:1 and the last race of the day, the Ellis Thomas Memorial was won by News Carrier in 1:45:1. Whats Popping came second and Mick G third in the 1 miler worth $5,500.
[slideshow]
27 Responses to “UPDATE: Bud White sets new record in Premier's Cup victory! [Slideshow Included]”