Cryptolight much the best in Mountaineer Mile
Cryptolight relished the return to Mountaineer’s main track after unsuccessful tries over a synthetic surface and turf to capture Saturday night’s 38th running of the $125,000 Mountaineer Mile Handicap.
Ridden for the first time by Ernesto Oro, the 5-year-old Cryptolight ($11) stalked a couple of lengths off the pace set by Shadowbdancing, then swung out to mount a challenge approaching the final turn, took command in midstretch, and drew clear by 5 ¾ lengths.
Shadowbdancing easily held second, 3 ¼ lengths in front of No Advantage, the 7-2 second choice in a field of 10 older horses. New York shipper Be Bullish finished fifth as the 5-2 favorite.
Third in last year’s Mountaineer Mile, Cryptolight, a locally based son of Fantastic Light trained by William Martin, had finished second in the $125,000 West Virginia Governor’s Cup the last time he raced on dirt. In his two most recent starts, Cryptolight was a distant fifth on the Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs and third in Mountaineer's Labor Day Stakes. He is now 10 for 45 lifetime, including 5 wins and 5 seconds in 14 starts over Mountaineer’s main track. He ran the mile on a track rated good in 1:39.55.