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South Carolina Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
The first stride to the finish line begins in South Carolina
Between September 22 and October 8, South Carolina training centers saw nine graduates win Stakes races at seven different racetracks across the country.
On September 22, Kettle Kiss, a graduate of Travis Durr’s operation in St. Matthews, won the Miss Southern Ohio Stakes at Belterra Park. Kettle Kiss, sixth early on, launched her rally with 3 furlongs to go, working her way through the field and proved much the best winning by 3 lengths. This was her third win in a row.
A day later, Notice of Action made it 2 for 2 in career starts, capturing the Prince Lucky Stakes at PARX. Notice of Action stalked the leaders while 4 wide early on. He made the lead in the turn and in a hard fought stretch duel, prevailed by a ½ length. This colt was developed by Randy and Kala Rentz.
Later that afternoon, the former Rentz student, Nimitz Class, recorded his sixth Stakes victory in the PARX Dirt Mile Stakes. Nimitz Class was third for the first ¾’s of a mile. In the stretch, he took the lead and crossed the finish line 1 ¾ lengths in front. This colt has earned $717,080.
The 2-year-old New York-bred colt, Canyougetaloan, took a narrow advantage at the sixteenth pole and held on to win the Aspirant Stakes at Finger Lakes on September 25 by a head. He entered the race as a Maiden having finished second two weeks before this Stakes. Canyougetaloan went through the breaking process at the Travis Durr Training Center.
Another 2-year-old, Air Recruit, broke by Brad Stauffer and Ron Stevens’ Legacy Stable in Aiken, defeated a full field of 12 in the Laurel Futurity on September 30. Fourth after a ½ mile, Air Recruit took over the lead at the three sixteenths pole and then galloped home a 5 ½ length winner.
Zandon, who has raced in 12 Graded Stakes during his career, hit paydirt in the Woodward Stakes-G2 at Belmont at the Big A meet on October 12. In an eventful trip, Zandon was involved in a bumping incident, and was forced to race wide. He was able to make the lead approaching the quarter-pole and then scampered home a 4 ¼ length winner. In an earlier accomplishment, Zandon won the Blue Grass Stakes-G1 as a 3-year-old. He has earned $2,140,000 during his career. Zandon was developed by Travis Durr.
King Ice, who learned his early lessons from “Goree” Smith at his Elloree Training Center, gained his fourth career Stakes victory proving best in the To Much Coffee Handicap at Horseshoe Indianapolis on October 4. King Ice had only two beat after a ¼ mile, dropping over 11 lengths off the pace. He was ridden with confidence, working his way past the field taking the lead in mid-stretch and from there, quickly enlarged his advantage to win by 6 1/4 lengths. King Ice has won 5 of his 10 career starts.
In his 24th career start, Hoist the Gold won a Stakes for the first time, capturing the Phoenix Stakes-G2 at Keeneland on October 6. Hoist the Gold stalked the leaders into the stretch. He took control in midstretch and held off the late closers crossing the finish line ¾ of a length in front. Hoist the Gold went through the breaking process under the watchful eye of Travis Durr.
Book’em Danno recorded his third win in three career starts proving best in the Futurity Stakes at the Belmont at the Big A meet on October 8. A former student at Randy and Kala Rentz’ Rentz Farm Training Center, Book’em Danno, a 2-year-old gelding, was 4 of 5 early on while racing 4 wide. In the stretch, he took command and proved much the best winning by 6 ½ lengths.
Racing Across
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