A GOOD WEEK AT THE OFFICE FOR HMDC & PARTNERS
- chris lialios
- Sep 23
- 2 min read
I Belong First
Like a good brisket sandwich – we’re on a roll! The only way HMDC
and Taste of Victory Stables could have had three winners on Tuesday was to have a dead-heat. That feat would have to come in the 7th race, a $35,800 Allowance race for Accredited-bred distaffers going one mile. Trainer Megan Fadlovich had her hands full with two starters in the race. Any question about I Belong First wanting to go long, were answered just a few jumps out of the gate. Jockey Rocco Bowen, who was aboard the 3-year-old filly for her win last out, put the challenge to the field with a quick two length lead into the first turn.
Stablemate Over the Falls, also coming off a winning effort, did her best to keep up with the leader and held second for 6 furlongs. Rocco gave a knockout punch to the field when he gave them the slip into the stretch leading by over three lengths. After the tepid pace he set, there was plenty left to hold off any rivals by 2 1⁄2 unchallenged lengths. I Belong First (Cowtown Cat-Cosi Celeste-Bernardini), a Mapleton-bred, now sports a record of 5-2-0-0 for $47,495. Over the Falls tired from chasing her teammate, settling for the fourth spot.
Don’t go home yet folks! Megan handed off one horse and picked another one up. It was time to saddle Commissioner D in the next race – a $18,300, 6 furlong dash
with a $7,500 tag. This was a fun race to watch. Four horses vied for the lead and
none of the riders were going to change their plan, around the turn they were four
heads apart. Class began to show, as Commissioner D, and two others coming out of the same race, separated from the rest. Rider Anthony Rodriguez continued to get a willing effort from our 4-year-old Mapleton-bred, to win by 1 1⁄2 and capture his fourth race for career earnings of $75,463.
HMDC, Taste of Victory and TBC Racing’s winning 2-year-old Gray Perfection
(Creative Cause-Alpine Echo-Swiss Yodeler), put in an impressive effort facing five
other winners on the 18th The Huntertown-bred gray was challenged every step of
the way in the six-panel test offering $35,800. While our color bearer had to settle
for a one-length third, the effort was visually impressive, when last headed, she did
not quit and ran right on with the top two. I would not be surprised to see the top
three meeting again in a stakes event.
