Charles Town: Pink Ribbon becomes third straight win for Bayonne

Mike Montgomery

Bayonne, ridden by Erick Ramirez, surges past Withgreatpleasure to win the Pink Ribbon for fillies and mares.

Locally based Bayonne came from off the pace to run down Monmouth Park shipper Withgreatpleasure in Saturday night’s $70,000 Pink Ribbon Stakes for fillies and mares at Charles Town.

It was the third straight win locally for the 4-year-old Bayonne ($11.20), ridden by Erick Ramirez, since she returned from a two-month layoff in mid-July. A daughter of Dance With Ravens trained by Jeffrey Cramer for Cramer Racing.  She completed seven furlongs in 1:25.40 in winning for the seventh time in 17 starts.

Cramer, who claimed Bayonne for $6,250 at Penn National in January, said he had toi be patient with the filly and alter her running style, changing her from a front-runner to a closer.

"We gave her 60 days the first time and she didn't respond well so we gave her another two months and changed her running style," Cramer said. "Once we put Erick on and took ahold of her head she was able to settle and the rest is all on her. She’s able to stay more sound now because she isn't tiring out on the front end.”

Withgreatpleasure, winner of an overnight stakes at Delaware Park two starts ago, had taken the lead from pacesetter Majestic Samurai approaching the turn for home. She was a clear second, followed by Moonlit Malibu. Both the runner-up and third-place finisher went off at 2-1 odds.

*Flattering Bea ($4.20), an impressive winner at Delaware Park in her first start on dirt last month, cruised to her second straight victory in the $75,000 Miss Shenandoah for  2-year-old fillies going 6 1/2 furlongs.

Ridden by Al Delgado for trainer Crystal Pickett, Flattering Bea rallied from fifth to finish 2 ½ lengths in front of Easter Fashion. The winning time was 1:20.40.

There were also eight stakes restricted to West Virginia-breds prepping for the Oct. 20 West Virginia Breeders’ Classic program. In the statebred races:

* Rummy's Command ($9.20) ended a 13-race losing streak in 2012 by taking the $35,000 Dr. Ernest Benner Handicap for 3-year-olds and up going 6 1/2 furlongs.

* Unbeaten 2-year-old filly Jax and Jill ($2.60) made it three in a row by taking the $50,000 Rachel’s Turn, a 4 1/2-furlong sprint.

* In the Fairway ($15,60) upset 1-5 favorite Hidden Canyon in the $50,000 Henry Mercer Memorial for 2-year-old colts and geldings.

* Strawberry Cupcake ($10.80) ended a season-long five-racing losing streak with a hard-fought half-length victory over 10-1 outsider Big Bad Ike in the $45,000 Roger Ramey Handicap for 3-year-olds and up. Son of a Bear finished fourth in the five-horse  field as the 3-5 favorite, triggering inflated prices for show.

* The 7-year-old mare Silver Heart ($2.20) collected her 15th lifetime victory by leading wire to wire in the $35,000 Ann Hilton Handicap for fillies and mares.

* Severn Shore ($8.80) outfinished 2-5 favorite Rita Haywood to win for the fourth time in five lifetime starts in the $35,000 Roberta Grump Handicap for 3-year-old fillies.

* Hot Sauce ($7.60) outdueled 2-5 favorite Buckle Bunny Babe in the stretch to take the $35,000 Noble’s Honey Handicap for fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles.

*Lucy’s Bob Boy ($2.60) cruised to a five-length victory for this fifth consecutive win in the $35,000 Harry Buch Handicap for 3-year-olds.