Southwind Tempo Wins Again

 
                         Southwind Tempo & driver Tim Tetrick


July 28, 2007

Southwind Tempo extended her winning streak to 10 races with a 1:49.3 clocking in her elimination race for the $320,000 Mistletoe Shalee Final Friday night at the Meadowlands. Her speedy effort equaled Armbro Dancer's track record set in the 2006 Mistletoe Shalee Final.

With Tim Tetrck in the sulky, Southwind Tempo easily cleared the lead from Lady Mattgalane at the half and never looked back, drawing off to a two-length win over the pocketsitter. Mind Boggling held on for third. U All BB and Native Hanover also advanced to the Mistletoe Shalee Final, which will be raced on Hambletonian Day, Saturday, August 4 at the Meadowlands.

"I talked to her a little bit late, but she just drew off on her own," Tetrick said. "I called upon her a little bit at the top of the stretch and she just took right off, sitting there in the hand-holds finishing. She's just awesome. She drives like a nine-year-old mare who's done this a bunch of times before. She's been so good all along, no matter what track or how you race her."

Southwind Tempo has won 12 races this season and 13 of 15 starts overall. Horseman Toby Lynch purchased Southwind Tempo for $3,500 at the Blooded Horse Sale in the spring of 2005 and she has now won more than $550,000. Lynch, who raced the filly early in her career, sold a 20 percent interest in Southwind Tempo to retired New York Jets receiver Wayne Chrebet in April.
Shortly after, they turned over her training duties to Steve Elliott for her Meadowlands stakes campaign.

Hana Hanover took the other Mistletoe Shalee elimination race in 1:50.3 for driver George Brennan and trainer Mark Steacy. Tidewaterdragonfly and Trinity Islands finished second and third, respectively. Also advancing to the Mistletoe Shalee Final were Me And My Baby and Mystical Dreamer.