Eightthehardway earns first stakes victory in Catlaunch
Eightthehardway, who picked up small pieces of purses in three stakes since he was claimed for $20,000 in mid-March, finally broke through with the first stakes victory of his 27-race career in Saturday’s $75,000 Catlaunch at Thistledown.
Sent off as the 3-5 favorite in a field of seven Ohio-accredited older males, Eightthehardway ($3.40) had to work his way from the back of the pack after stretch-out sprinter Pyrite Mill set slow fractions in the 1 1/16-mile route of 49.12 seconds for a half-mile and 1:15.08 for six furlongs.
Jockey Luis Gonzalez asked the 4-year-old Eightthehardway to launch his move on the turn for home. He got within a head of the leader at the eighth pole, blew past Pyrite Mill, and drew off to win by 6 1/4 lengths, completing the distance in 1:47.54.
Pyrite Mill held second, 3 1/2 lengths in front of 22-1 longshot Wild Pacific.
It was the first win of the meet after 59 losses for trainer Richard Vickers.
A son of Parents’ Reward owned by Paul Groves, Eightthehardway is now 6 for 27 lifetime with earnings of $212,968.