Harrah's Hoosier Park: T C I adds Peter Haughton Memorial to growing resume
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T C I and driver David Miller continued their incredible stakes-winning form this season on Friday night by annexing the $420,000 Peter Haughton Memorial, which was raced for the first time at Harrah's Hoosier Park. The brilliant son of Cantab Hall stopped the clock in 1:54 2/5 for his eighth win in nine career starts.
Breezy Hall with Scott Zeron and Thinker Monkey and driver Brian Sears were the quickest to leave, with Thinker Monkey in control heading into the first turn. Amazing Catch with Yannick Gingras moved quickly on the opening bend, and Miller with T C I followed that bid. After an opening quarter of 27 2/5 cut by Thinker Monkey, Gingras crossed over with Amazing Catch but was more than content to yield the front to the favored T C I well before a soft 57 1/5 half.
T C I was able to keep the pace at a dawdling clip as most of those following him stayed glued to the pylons. Spaaaanzano and driver Aaron Merriman went on a long overland expedition trying to reach the leader, followed by Mars Hill and Security Protected. At three-quarters in 1:27 flat, Miller let T C I trot, and the outer tier disappeared, with only Amazing Catch and Gingras with any shot of making a race out of it.
By midstretch it was clear no one was going to trot with T C I, as the Ron Burke trainee sprinted off in-hand with a 27 2/5 final quarter. Amazing Catch was a clear second, with Security Protected doing well for third after racing wide on the final turn. Thinker Monkey held down the fourth spot over Spaaaanzano.
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"He got a nice, soft middle-half," said Miller after the victory. "He felt pretty strong to the wire."
As the 1-2 favorite T C I returned $3 to win.
Owned by Burke Racing Stables, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services and Weaver Bruscemi, T C I earned an automatic bid to the Breeders Crown final held this year at Harrah's Hoosier Park in late October. T C I is also eligible to the Mohawk Million scheduled for September 23 at Woodbine Mohawk Park following his victory in the William Wellwood Memorial.