By Randy Brungard
September is an exciting month for Thoroughbred racing, especially in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This past Saturday, 111 Thoroughbreds born in Pennsylvania were entered to run in the annual “PA Day at the Races”. Conducted at Parx racetrack located in Bensalem, just north of Philadelphia, eleven different races restricted to PA Breds were run, including 4 Stakes races.
PA Day at the Races represents an outstanding opportunity for PA Breeding Operations of all sizes to compete in a high quality event. There were 97 different PA breeding connections represented by at least one horse in the day’s racing program. Although there are several large, first class, breeding operations in the state, this was truly a day where the small-scale breeder had an opportunity to compete in a marquee event.
On Monday the entire nation’s racing eyes shifted to Presque Isle Downs, located in Erie, PA. The Grade Two Masters Stakes, worth $400,000 and featuring Champion mare “Groupie Doll”, was run that night. It was a marketing coup for Presque Isle Downs. Winner of the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Groupie Doll was installed as the heavy favorite in the most prestigious race run that day. Two long shots set fast early fractions of 21.87 seconds for the first quarter mile, and 44.1 at the half. “Purely Hot”, who came into the race with a 5 race win streak, was sitting in the “garden spot”, just a few lengths back of the early pace setters. When the front runners began to tire, Purely Hot took command. Groupie Doll, who was several lengths back during the first half of the race, had just begun her late-closing run. Although Purely Hot was game, Groupie Doll finally got by to win by 1 1/2 lengths. The final time for the 6 1/2 furlong distance was 1:14.88, a new track record. Purely Hot held on for second, 3/4 of a length in front of “Judy The Beauty”. It was an impressive result for the top-three finishers, given the final time. In addition, this was Purely Hot’s first stakes race. The former $10,000 claimer from Penn National performed well in her first effort against top class horses. Although she lost to last year’s Champion female sprinter, Purely Hot finished in front of Judy The Beauty, who is a stakes winner and has finished second in 3 G1 races.
On September 21st Parx race track will host the G2 Pennsylvania Derby, as well as the G1 Cotillion for three-year-old fillies. With million dollar purses on the line in both races, some of the best three-year-olds in the country will undoubtedly compete. It is a great opportunity to see top-class Thoroughbred action.
On September 30th, the annual Fasig-Tipton yearling sale will take place in Timonium, Maryland. Located a short drive over the Pennsylvania border, the Timonium sales ground is just off Route 83. Although it is held in Maryland, it offers an outstanding opportunity to buy or sell registered PA-breds. There are 390 yearlings consigned for the one-day sale, including 108 PA breds. If you have never been to a high quality Thoroughbred auction, Timonium is a great place to start. Just be careful when you wiggle your nose, unless of course you want to be part of the adrenalin rush that comes with owning a promising Thoroughbred race horse!