Sneak a Cold Treat upsets at Thistledown

Sneak a Cold Treat got the jump on the closers and was able to stay clear late in posting a 13-1 upset Saturday in the $100,000 Best of Ohio Endurance at Thistledown in North Randall, Ohio.

Ridden by Huber Villa-Gomez, Sneak a Cold Treat returned $28.80 in finishing two lengths before Allsarott in a field of 11 older horses. Raise the Reward was third, Bold Captain was fourth, while Catlaunch, the 2-1 favorite, faded badly to be 10th.

Sneak a Cold Treat, a 4-year-old gelding by Snuck In, is owned by Midwest Thoroughbreds and now has won 8 of 28 starts after completing 1 1/4 miles in 2:05.20. He was racing without blinkers, which had been standard equipment.

"With the blinkers off, he relaxed, and I got so much kick out of him," said Villa-Gomez.

"We claimed this horse at Tampa this spring, and he's just gotten better and better," said winning trainer Jamie Ness. "We found that this horse is a lot better stretching out. We got in the best trip in the world today, and it really set up for us."

The Endurance was the last of five Best of Ohio races contested on the Ohio Derby undercard. In those earlier races:

Tri Uimet wins duelTri Uimet ($16.20), with Scott Spieth aboard for trainer Jeff Radosevich, wore down I Cant Refuse in a virtual race-long duel when edging away to a hard-fought half-length score in the $75,000 Sprint.

I Cant Refuse set the pace in the six-furlong race, with Tri Uimet chasing closest. By midstretch, the two were on even terms, with Tri Uimet going on to prove best for his ninth win from 24 career starts. King of the Roxy had no excuse when finishing fourth as the 3-5 favorite.

Thats a Heckofacat hangs onThats a Heckofacat ($3.20) was fully extended to turn back a game Busha' in winning the $75,000 Juvenile Stakes by a nose.

John McKee was aboard the winner, a 2-year-old gelding by Hold That Tiger, for trainer William "Dougie" Cowans. Thats a Heckofacat is unbeaten in three career starts.

Busha', ridden by Perry Ouzts, finished eight lengths ahead of Bye Bye Bush in a field of nine.

Slides Choice tops favorite

Slides Choice ($7) emerged narrowly best following a fierce stretch-long duel with heavily favored Pay the Man in capturing the $100,000 Distaff by a nose.

With Eddie Castro riding for trainer Tim Hamm, Slides Choice was victorious for the eighth time in 12 career starts. Pay the Man, the 1-2 choice, had 8 1/4 lengths on Pyrite Gem in a field of eight fillies and mares.

Queen Imidala wins Galbreath Queen Imidala ($9.60) shook off two different challenges while taking full advantage of a poor start for the 1-2 favorite and eventual third-place finisher, Country Club Sue, in capturing the $75,000 John W. Galbreath, a 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-old fillies. Fernando De La Cruz was aboard the winner for trainer Craig Holstein.