Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Messenger Field Set

October 22, 2007

A pair of $40,000 elimination have dedicided the field for the third jewel in Pacing's Triple Crown--the $725,480 Messenger Pace--set for Saturday, Oct. 27 at Yonkers Raceway in New York.

In the first elimination, Always A Virgin (Brian Sears), the 3-4 favorite, was sitting next-to-last as the Art Rooney Pace winner, Southwind Lynx (Tim Tetrick), through first-half fractions of :27.2 and :56.4.

Sears moved Always A Virgin before the 1:25.3 three-quarters and pulled away by one-half lengths in 1:53.1, with a 27.3 final brush. It was three lengths back to Forensic Z Tam (Pat Lachance), Watta Hotshot (Greg Grismore), and Pandora's Sox (Dave Miller).

"I knew once I didn't leave, I'd have to chase some slow fractions," Sears said. "He's such a versatile colt. I knew I only have to beat one horse, so the one concern I had was not to rough him up."

Always A Virgin, a Western Ideal colt trained by Joe Holloway for the Bluewood Stable, Roll the Dice Stable and Val d'Or Farms, nabbed his 11th win in 17 seasonal starts, with $647,463 in 2007 earnings.

The second Messenger Elimination was won by Hot Rod Mindale using a two-hole trip behind Tivoli Hanover (George Brennan), one of two, $60,000 supplemental entrants.

Tivoli Hanover paced in a :28.3 and :58.4 first two quarter before Yankee Skyscape challenged on the outside to the 1:26.1 three-quarters. Hot Rod Mindale went inside the leader to win by one-half length, in 1:54. Kenneth J, the two-time New York Sire Stakes Final winner and the other $60,000 supplement, was third, with Yankee Skyscaper holding-off Running Book (Brian Sears).

"I made a mistake of not leaving in the first elimination and it cost me," Miller said. "Here, I looked and didn't see anyone else looking to go, so I took a shot. I knew with those fractions I would get carried, but then George's colt started to get away from me. I've driven Hot Rod Mindale a few different times throughout the season, and he's better now."

Hot Rod Mindale, a son of Real Artist, picked up his fourth victory in 16 tries this year. He has $207,002 in earnings in 2007 for trainer Noel Daley and owners Frank Dettore, William Donovan and Joe Sbrocco.