Red Mile: Test Of Faith surges to Garnsey Memorial victory
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
Test Of Faith overcame post nine and a talented field to capture Sunday's Glen Garnsey Memorial at The Red Mile in 1:48 3/5 for driver David Miller. The standout daughter of Art Major was a winner for the 11th time this season in the $207,0009 contest for 3-year-old pacing fillies.
With a field of 10, the action was heated in the early stages as Blue Diamond Eyes, Thebeachiscalling, and Notorious Pink blasted out hard at the outset while Grace Hill and Test Of Faith left with purpose looking for early position. Thebeachiscalling took control through a 27 1/5 opening quarter before Yannick Gingras and Blue Diamond Eyes made a second move and took the lead. Blue Diamond Eyes kept the pace strong, hitting the half in 55 seconds flat before Grace Hill and Todd McCarty went on the offensive.
The pace picked up sharply through the third quarter as Grace Hill applied the pressure to the leader and provided ideal cover for second-choice Fire Start Hanover and driver Dexter Dunn. In the third-over slot was Test Of Faith, with Miller keeping her on the cover as the field passed three-quarters in 1:22 flat.
In the homestretch the dueling leaders battled, but Fire Start Hanover rallied with Dunn to take the lead by mid-stretch. Miller had Test Of Faith amped up, though, and the Brett Pelling-trained miss hit high gear in the crucial stages and marched off impressively to distance herself and win for the second straight week of Grand Circuit action at The Red Mile.
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Sent off as the 4-5 choice, Test Of Faith returned $3.60, with Fire Start Hanover second and Grace Hill a solid third after the difficult journey.
"She felt strong up the backside," said Miller following the contest. "When I pulled the plugs (in the stretch) she was full of pace."
Test Of Faith has 19 wins in 22 career starts for the ownership team of Melvin Segal, Kentuckiana Racing Stable and Eddie Gran.