Clovisconnection continues stakes win streak in Harris Farms
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When Clovisconnection was passed by Top Harbor in early stretch of Saturday’s $75,000 Harris Farms Stakes at The Big Fresno Fair in central California, trainer Blaine Wright expected a second-place finish.
“I would have settled for that,” Wright said.
Despite losing his lead, Clovisconnection was not finished. Racing on the inside, Clovisconnection ($5.80) rallied from a length behind 3-5 Top Harbor to win by a head.
“That was heckuva win,” Wright said.
“What a game race throughout. They hadn’t been winning from off the lead and they haven’t won from the inside and he did both.”
The win was the fourth consecutive stakes win for Clovisconnection, who races for owners and breeders William and Judy Hedrick.
Clovisconnection, who was ridden by William Antongeorgi, ran six furlongs in 1:09.50. The Harris Farms Stakes was restricted to California-breds.
Top Harbor, the winner of two sprint stakes earlier this year in Northern California, finished 3 1/4 lengths in front of 8-1 Larry’s Legend. Evenereverworse, who set an early pace of 22.76 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, faded to finish fourth, followed by Lmlooknformischief in the small field.
Clovisconnection, a 3-year-old gelding by Vronsky, has won 7 of 10 starts and earned $249,130.
The winning streak includes two sprint stakes for 3-year-olds at Emerald Downs in the summer – the Auburn Stakes and Irish Day Stakes – and the Robert Dupret Derby at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Santa Rosa on Aug. 12.
Clovisconnection is scheduled to be vanned to the Hedricks’ home near Fresno for an autumn rest on Sunday.
“He’ll get some R&R,” Wright said. “We hope to have a heckuva of a 4-year-old.”
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