Red Mile: Arch Madness goes back-to-back with Allerage victory
Arch Madness and driver-trainer Trond Smedshammer proved that age is not an obstruction to greatness, capturing the $172,200 Allerage Farms Trot at Lexington’s Red Mile on Sunday afternoon in a gritty 1:51 3/5 mile over a “good” surface.
In the process, the nine-year-old pushed his career earnings over $4 million while winning for the second straight week in Kentucky and stamping himself once again among the elite in the division.
Smedshammer got away fourth from the rail but was able to find a perfect cover flow when Sevruga pulled at the half. With Quick Deal setting fractions of :27 1/5 and :55, the cover towed Arch Madness into the picture as the pace slowed in the third quarter to just 1:24.
That set the stage for the closers and Arch Madness and Smedshammer got the jump on favorites Mister Herbie and Market Share, who were both following third and fourth-over cover respectively. Smedshammer called on his world-class trotter and the veteran son of Balanced Image responded in a big way, holding the closers at bay.
Mister Herbie had to settle for second, with Market Share and Guccio all closing in the stretch but coming up short.
The victory, just the third this season for Arch Madness, was the 34th career triumph for the gelding owned by Mark Goldberg and Willow Pond LLC.
Arch Madness returned an even $15 to win.
Veteran toughness continued in the $175,000 Allerage Farms Open Pace, with Golden Receiver going wire-to-wire for driver Corey Callahan and trainer Mark Harder. The oldest horse in the field at age eight, Golden Receiver cut fractions of :28 1/5, :55 3/5 and 1:22 4/5 and in early stretch appeared to be collared by Clear Vision with Brett Miller aboard. Golden Receiver dug in gamely with Callahan urging him on and was able to fight back to take the decision in an even 1:50, a brilliant mile considering the conditions. A 12-1 outsider in the talent-laden field, Golden Receiver won for the first time since May 11 at the Meadowlands. Clear Vision held for second with Sweet Lou third. Favorites A Rocknroll Dance and Pet Rock were never factors, with the latter mired behind the former’s dull cover.
The $81,000 Allerage Farm pace for mares went to Shelliscape. Like Arch Madness, Shelliscape found live cover second over for Tim Tetrick following second choice Rocklamation into the stretch. With the track decidedly sloppy, pacesetter and favorite Drop The Ball succumbed to pressure and Shelliscape charged to victory in 1:51 3/5. A recent purchase of Bamond Racing LLC, Shelliscape won for the first time for her new connections that include trainer Richard “Nifty” Norman.
Camille, at 40-1, rallied late for second with Rocklamation edging past Drop The Ball for the third spot. Shelliscape, a four-year-old daughter of Artiscape, returned $13.80 to win.
Maven wrapped up the Allerage Farms action with a wide rally in the $76,000 open mare trot in 1:52 3/5. Check Me Out stamped herself as back on the scene by leaving hard and securing the front over Real Babe. She set fractions of :27 4/5, :55 and 1:23 3/5 as Maven began to bear down on the rim. Check Me Out battled gamely but could not hold off the late charge from Maven, who scored for the eighth time in 11 starts for the team of driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Jonas Czernyson and owner William Donovan.