The Gray Dehere romps in Prairie Gold Juvenile

The Gray Dehere seems like a handful. He definitely was too much for his four rivals Friday night at Prairie Meadows in the $63,700 Prairie Gold Juvenile.

Racing wide and, just like in his first two starts, trying to get out through the homestretch despite a big old blinker cup over his right eye, The Gray Dehere nevertheless won the Prairie Gold Juvenile in a jog, scoring by almost 15 lengths over runner-up Cat Addiction.

The Gray Dehere got out late while finishing second in his career debut and did the same thing in winning his second start. He was slightly difficult to load Friday night in the Prairie Gold Juvenile – and much the best.

The front bandages, for whatever that was worth, that The Gray Dehere had worn in his two Lone Star starts were off in Friday’s race, and The Gray Dehere was off in his own world for much of the stretch run after putting away 4-5 favorite Brother Richie past the quarter pole.

Brother Richie, favored off a sharp, professional debut win at Canterbury Park, was the meat in a sandwich where The Gray Dehere and Johannasan were the bread. In the end, it was The Gray Dehere who ate their lunch, winning under his own courage – and yes, trying to get out again – as jockey Lane Luzzi held on for the ride.

The winning six-furlong time was posted as 1:11.36 but appeared in official charts Friday night as 1:12.97. The posted time, rather than the chart time, seems more reasonable. The Gray Dehere paid $5 to win as Brother Richie faded to finish last.

Trained and co-owned by J.R. Caldwell, The Gray Dehere is by Graydar and out of Little Red Cozette, by Henny Hughes.

Taylor’s Spirit all the way in Lassie

Taylor’s Spirit swung back into action just 12 days after a 13 3/4-length debut win at Prairie Meadows, but 2-year-olds are fresh and resilient, and the filly had little trouble shrugging off the Arlington shipper Agi’s Cait, leading all the way en route to a 3 3/4-length score in the $65,000 Prairie Gold Lassie.

With Kevin Roman riding for trainer Scott Gelner and owners Mark Norman and Norman Stables, Taylor’s Spirit was pressed by Agi’s Cait and Gorgeouswitha G, but she emerged with a clear lead in midstretch and pulled away to win clear. Taylor’s Spirit, who paid $3.40 to win as the odds-on favorite, was timed in 1:12.28 for six furlongs on a fast track. Agi’s Cait finished second, three-quarters of a length in front of Beach Getaway.

Taylor’s Spirit fetched $80,000 at a 2-year-old auction in April. She’s by Algorithms and the Dehere mare Spirit Rising.