Red Mile: Shebestingin now the fastest female pacer of all time

Shebestingin became the fastest female pacer of any age when she captured the $122,500 first division of the Glen Garnsey Memorial at The Red Mile over a blazingly-fast racing surface in 1:47.

The daughter of Bettors Delight actually balked at the start causing a recall, but the second time around was breathtaking as driver Dave Miller guided her away from post six and put her in a three-hole behind early leaders Authorize and Ms Caila J Fra.

After a :26 4/5 opening quarter Miller made a brisk move on the backstretch to clear the front stopping the half-mile marker teletimer in :53 1/5. With second-choice Scandalous Hanover making a sharp move on the turn the pace remained strong. The pair reached the three quarters in 1:20 even, scaring even her driver a little bit. “I thought we were getting there in 1:18 or 1:19 and I was worried she wouldn’t finish,” said Miller after the record mile.

But in the stretch Shebestingin quickly put away Scandalous Hanover and strode out powerfully to win by open lengths with a :27 flat final quarter.

The final time was three-fifths of a second faster than Put On A Show’s 1:47 3/5 clocking taken as an aged pacer. It was more than a full second better than American Jewel’s standard for three-year-old fillies, a 1:48 2/5 effort taken at Mohawk last year.

Scandalous Hanover, a supplement to the race, finished second with Authorize finishing third.

“Everyone goes so fast now,” said Joe Holloway, “I thought she had a shot at a world record for sure. It’s like (Tim) Tetrick said last week, you don’t really shoot for a number because you can get into trouble.”

Joe Holloway trains the nine-time winner in 2013. Shebestingin is owned by Val D’Or Farms, Ted Gewertz and L & L Devisser LLC.

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Carols Desire captured the second $122,500 Garney division nearly three seconds slower than Shebestingin. With Yannick Gingras in the bike the daughter of Real Desire converted a two-hole trip behind favored pacesetter Parlee Beach. Gingras angled his filly off the pylons in midstretch and the Ron Burke-trained lass went by easily to a personal best 1:49 4/5 mile. Parlee Beach held for second with Mattie Terror Girl holding the show position.

“It was her best race of the year,” said Ron Burke after the race.

Somestarsomewhere gave early indication that the track was super fast with a 1:49 2/5 victory in the first International Stallion Stake for two-year-old male pacers. The son of Somebeachsomewhere made a regaining move for Yannick Gingras past the quarter and was strong to the wire for trainer Ron Burke.

“He raced very well last week so I knew he would be good, but I wasn’t expecting a 1:49 2/5 mile. The track is lightning fast,” said Gingras.

Tim Tetrick guided Ideal Magic to victory in the second International Stallion event for juvenile male pacers. The son of American Ideal made a blitz to the lead down the backstretch and was game to the wire holding Ari Allstar at bay in a 1:51 2/5 mile. Tony Alagna trains the colt.

Trainer Ray Schnittker has been saying that So Surreal may be the best pacer he’s ever had and on Saturday he finally gave indication with a sterling 1:49 4/5 mile in the third $67,750 International Stallion Stake division. The son of Somebeachsomewhere rebounded from a second place finish in Bluegrass action last week to score a long grinding first-over victory for driver Tim Tetrick. So Surreal overtook pacesetter Carracci Hanover in the stretch and posted a :27 flat final quarter.

Wrapping up the International Stallion Stake action was a rain-soaked 1:57 1/5 winning mile by Limelight Beach. He bested Stevensville and Doo Wop Hanover despite a first-over trip as the entire field battled the rain. For Limelight Beach, it was his sixth win of the year in 10 starts for owners James Stambaugh, Milton Leeman and Charles Wingfield.

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