Red Mile: Tattersalls triumphs to Stolen Glimpse, Racing Hill

Stolen Glimpse and driver Brian Sears upset at 19-1 in the first of two $208,000 divisions of the Tattersalls at The Red Mile on Sunday afternoon. The Ron Burke-trained son of Art Major followed a good flow of cover and edged rivals in a blanket finish in this meaningful contest for sophomore pacing colts and geldings.

Favored Check Six, one of three trained by Burke in the field, had the lead at the quarter in 26 4/5 and yielded to Western Fame midway on the backstretch. Western Fame and driver Mark MacDonald got the half in 54 1/5, and then took on serious pressure from Dr J Hanover with Scott Zeron. Those two locked up with Lindy Beach second-over and Stolen Glimpse third-over through the 1:22 2/5 three-quarter clocking.

Horses fanned wide and sought room in the stretch, but Sears had Stolen Glimpse going faster than any. A determined Western Fame shrugged off repeated challenges to his flank but couldn’t hold off Stolen Glimpse near the wire in the 1:49 2/5 mile. Dr J Hanover finished third after a long uncovered journey.

“We pulled his back shoes,” said assistant trainer Mickey Burke Jr. following the race. “Of course Brian (Sears) gave him a great drive.”Derick GiwnerRacing Hill got home on top in his Tattersalls division

Some order was restored in the second $208,000 Tattersalls division as 4-5 favorite Racing Hill went virtually wire-to-wire for driver Brett Miller, taking control in a 27 1/5 opening quarter and rating the pace kindly throughout. Early leader Lyons Snyder enjoyed the pocket but didn’t threaten in the stretch while 28-1 shot Big Top Hanover was a menacing second after racing without cover in the 1:49 4/5 mile.

“I’ve got to start racing him differently,” said Miller after the contest, acknowledging that the son of Roll With Joe would benefit from a non-front stepping trip.

Nevertheless, Racing Hill won for the sixth time in 2016 for trainer Tony Alagna and pushed his seasonal earnings over $1.3 million in the process.