HMDC RUNNERS BACK IN ACTION AT THISTLEDOWN
- chris lialios
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
HMDC and partners have had consistent action now that our horses are settled in at Thistledown after a winter of unpredictable weather that interfered with training schedules and track conditions. With that in our rear-view window, the action has picked up with a win, two seconds and a head scratcher this week.
Smokin Joe started the 2026 season, just as he ended 2025 – with a win. The 4-year-old Mapleton-bred son of Mobil fought off several challengers, never leading by more than 1⁄2 length through the final furlongs. Hats off to a rousing ride by Luis Rivera and trainer Mike Rone for having him ready to roll. The six-panel dash saw the HMDC and Taste of Victory Stable runner push his record to 10-4-1-3 for $97,967.
Young Justin Radosevich has joined our team of trainers and the first two color bearers he sent to post appear to be responding to their new home. First out of the barn was I Belong First on the 20th. As stated in our previous blog, the spot was an ambitious one as the 4-year-old Mapleton-bred was the only filly in the field who was stepping UP in class. Horses can’t read a Racing Form and under Jose Bracho I Belong First broke sharply and set the early pace while challenged every stride. Appearing to tire in the stretch, she dropped back to third and in the final 1/16th came on again to capture the second spot at 14-1.
Over the Falls made her seasonal debut on the 27th racing out of the Radosevich stable. She got a break in class relief while trying for her second win and almost got the job done. With Jose Bracho in the irons, the Mapleton-bred was quick to break and fought to the lead around the turn. Racing for HMDC and Taste of Victory she engaged the odds-on favorite in a battle to the wire and fell a 1⁄2 length short while drifting out in the final stages.
Our head scratcher of the week for HMDC, Taste of Victory and TBC Racing was the effort put in by Rogues a Plotting on the 21st. Trainer Mike Rone has always been high on the son of leading Ohio stallion Dominus and knows he has the talent, “He’s a tough horse to ride and Luis (jockey Rivera) had his hands full,” stated Rone after the race. As we have seen in his last winning effort, he rebroke in the lane when he finally got off the rail - no such luck in this start. Breaking from the rail, Rivera broke well with the gelding, but never got the chance to work his way to an outside path, with the “Rogue” fighting him most of the way. They stayed with the leaders to the final furlong and gave way late to finish sixth. Fingers
crossed for a outside post in his next start.
