Greeley and Ben makes Vance Stakes ninth consecutive victory
Greeley and Ben won his ninth consecutive race Sunday night when he darted to a 2 1/2-length victory over Mr. Money Bags in the $150,000 David M. Vance at Remington Park.
It was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third to Long Range Toddy.
Greeley and Ben has been unbeatable since April, when he won a $16,000 starter allowance at Oaklawn. He was a $10,000 claim last March, and was winning the first stakes of his career Sunday after capturing the allowance prep for the David M. Vance.
Greeley and Ben ($5) stumbled at the start Sunday, but moved into contention soon afterward and stalked the pace in fourth, settling off leader Empire of Gold through an opening quarter in 21.98 seconds and a half-mile in 44.29.
"He's such an athletic horse, he put himself in the race right away," winning rider Joe Talamo said in a post-race interview broadcast by Remington.
Greeley and Ben came three wide into the stretch, overtook the leader, and went on to cover six furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.79. Talamo was riding the horse for the first time for owner and trainer Karl Broberg.
"Hats off to Karl," Talamo said. "What a conditioning job - that many wins in a row!"
Talamo also spoke of the talent of Greeley and Ben.
"He's got a nice turn of foot that last quarter," he said. "What a fun horse."
Broberg has won nine straight races with one other horse, the filly Tight Britches in 2013-2014.
Greeley and Ben is a son of Greeley's Conquest. He has now won 16 of 26 starts for earnings of $454,398.
* Golden Curl ($6.40) was always prominent for a half-length win over Valentines Day in the $75,000 Ricks Memorial. The winner covered the 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares on firm turf in 1:42.51. David Cabrera was aboard Golden Curl, a daughter of Curlin who races for George Sharp and is trained by Shawn Davis.