Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Gold Dust Beach Upsets in American National

Gold Dust Beach (#6, Jason Dillander) won by a neck over Cheyenne Bodie (#7, Dean
Magee) in Saturday night's $250,000 American National Three-Year-Old Stake Final
at Balmoral Park. Odds On Duane (Tim Tetrick, in middle) was third.

July 30, 2005

L & L Devisser’s Gold Dust Beach pulled off at upset in Saturday night’s $250,000 American National Three-Year-Old Pace Final at Balmoral Park. Overlooked at 14-1 odds, Gold Dust Beach ($31.40) rallied for a 1:51.2 victory with driver Jason Dillander. It was another longshot (52-1) Cheyenne Bodie (Dean Magee) who came on with a rush to be second, just a neck behind the Joe Seekman trained winner. Odds On Duane (Tim Tetrick) at 17-1 was third, a half-length behind. The overwhelming 1-5 favorite Stonbridge Regal (Tony Morgan) went off stride before the start and again at the half and was eliminated. The trifecta of 6-7-1 returned $4,426.80.

“When I saw the favorite run I knew my chances were a lot greater, that’s for sure,” Dillander, 29, said. “I thought my horse deserved a little more credit that he got but with Stonebridge Regal getting all the play, and deservedly so, my horse went off at higher odds than he probably should.”

In the 58th consecutive running of the American National sophomore pace Chevie Cash (Dale Hiteman) shot out from the pole position and grabbed a quick lead. The 42-1 longshot got away with an easy :28 first quarter and when the 5-1 second choice Team Hutch (Pat Berry) came first up to get the lead, the Illinois champion needed a quick :26.3 second quarter to take command.

“I knew someone was going to get torched getting the top from Chevie Cash and I’m glad it wasn’t me,” said Dillander. “I didn’t realize the second quarter was that fast.”

Team Hutch still had the lead at the 1:23 three-quarter pole while Mandala Quest, who provided cover for Gold Dust Beach, pulled even with the leader before both Gold Dust Beach and Odds On Duane rushed past.

“Halfway down the stretch I thought we were going to be battling for second,” said Dillander. “But when my horse saw Odds On Duane put his head in front, my horse came back.”

Gold Dust Beach scored his fifth seasonal win in 11 starts for his Holland, Michigan
owners and pushed his '05 earnings to $161,792.

$250,000 3YO Colt Pace American National Balmoral Park Saturday, July 30, 2005
PP Horse Driver
5 Gold Dust Beach J Dillander
8 Cheyenne Bodie Dean Magee
7 Odds On Duane T Tetrick
10 American Fury MOosting
1 Chevie Cash D. Hiteman
2 Mandala Quest A. Miller
3 Team Hutch Pat Berry
9 Hawaiian Hunk R Marsh
4 Stonebridge Regal Morgan
Times :28 :54.3 1:23 1:51.2