“FROM WORST TO FIRST!” LOFTY STARTS A BUSY WEEK WITH A WIN –ROGUES A PLOTTING FAVORED IN $75,000 HORIZON STAKES

Lofty Cowtown and Jose Bracho exert their authority over the field on Monday. Photo courtesy of J.J. Zamaicko

HMDC’s gritty stakes competitor Lofty Cowtown turned the tables on a familiar foe on Monday. Racing for a $35,000 purse for Accredited-breds, she faced Authoritarian Girl, who has been a thorn in her hind quarters over two seasons. It’s a classic Tortoise-Hare matchup every time. Authoritarian Girl breaks to a quick lead and “Lofty” waits for the stretch to do her best running...often just behind the pacesetter. That’s exactly what happened when they met in the $75,000 Dr. T.F. Classen.

At Thistledown on Monday the race looked like a replay of the Classen. Authoritarian Girl sped out of the gate and set all the pace while not being threatened, while “Lofty” was last in the early going. Jose Bracho shifted her to the outside entering the field and “Lofty” made a slingshot move circling the field and taking aim at the odds-on favorite to win by 1 1⁄2 lengths. The 6-year-old mare, trained by Justin Radosevich now sports a 27-7-5-4 record for $248,988. It should be noted that Dr. Sikora’s Mapleton Farm bred both “Lofty” and Authoritative Girl.

On Friday, Rogues a Plotting will represent HMDC, Taste of Victory and TBC Racing as the pre-race favorite in the grassy $75,000 Horizon Stakes at Belterra Park. Unless the trackman’s dog gets loose and he pees at the quarter pole – this race should take place on the turf as there is no rain predicted during the week in Cincinnati. The 3-year-old gelding will try both turf and two turns for the first time. So why is he tabbed as the choice? He’s the fastest horse in the field.

Trainer Mike Rone has Rogues a Plotting at the top of his game right now. The DRF comment line on his last two winning performances stated – “...set pace, confident handling” and “perfect trip, driving” – encouraging words as he steps into the stake’s ranks. The 1 1/16 mile Horizon drew a modest field of seven. Regular rider Luis Rivera should be able to clear the field going into the first turn, leaving behind horses searching for their footing around that tight curve, a frequent problem point for these inexperienced turf runners. Rogues a Plotting’s multiple state champion sire Dominus was not known as a turfterror, but his

resume includes a win in Saratoga’s grassy, Grade 2 Bernard Baruch Handicap.

On Thursday we have two partnership horses headed to post at Thistledown.

I Belong First will head to post in the third race for conditioner Justin Radosevich, running in the same class where she finished second in her last start. With that merit, the HMDC and Taste of Victory color bearer has been set as the 2-1morning line favorite. The one-mile race is carded for Registered state-breds, non-winners of three races. It offers a purse of $21,400 with the field of seven at a $16,000 claiming tag. Jose Bracho will pilot the 4-year-old filly who is hoping for another one-mile win on her resume.

Later, on the Thursday program, HMDC and Taste of Victory’s Commissioner D is right back for more action while going to post in a field of seven allowance runners for $38,400. The six-furlong affair is for Registered Ohio-breds, which could make it a tad tougher for the daughter of Ohio stallion Mobil. The way she has been winning, that’s probably not a point of concern for trainer Justin Radosevich who will send his favored filly to post in search of her fourth straight win! Jose Bracho will be back aboard “The Commish.”