HMDC active at both Thistledown and Belterra Park this weekend
Updated: Aug 6
HMDC partners will have a busy “Bookend” week with runners they are connected to, at both Thistledown and Belterra Park. Our colors will go to post in two races on Monday at Thistledown – Lofty Cowtown (3rd race) and Roll On Big O (8th race).
“Lofty Cowtown is training great for her race,” reports trainer Megan Fadlovich. Lofty Cowtown comes into the race off of a thrilling winning performance in the $75,000 Dr. T.F. Classen Memorial. The 4-year old pushed her career earnings to $118,650. Fresh off of that stakes win, she will turn back a half-furlong to 5 ½ and will face open company. As an Ohio-bred, she will be running for a $43,000 purse with the state incentive added.
Lofty Cowtown is by Cowtown Cat out of Lofty Lizzie by Unbridled Song and was bred by Mapleton Farm.
Later in the day, trainer Mike Rone will send out Roll On Big O in a $35,600 6-furlong allowance dash for Accredited Ohio-breds. The “Big O” caught a wet fast track for his seasonal debut and did little running after flashing his usual speed. Rone is hoping his gelding will carry his early foot all the way with the addition of blinkers for the first time and Lasix the second time.
The 4-year-old Roll On Big O is a Mapleton-bred by Cowtown Cato out of Echt by Fusaichi Pegasus.
Partner Steven Chumney will see one of his homebreds race in the first race of the day. After selling in the Ocala Sale, Ivory Sky made his first 14 career starts on the west coast, starting mostly in rich maiden races, albeit, unsuccessfully. Now owned and trained by Megan Fadlovich, he won at first asking for her in a $31,000 maiden race at Mahoning.
The late-blooming 6-year-old is by Sky Kingdom out of the Runaway Groom mare Ivory Treasure.
Four $75,000 Ohio stakes will take place at Belterra Park on Friday and HMDC will be represented by recent first-out winner Fortheloveofbonnie. The 2-year-old grey filly ran away from the field in her July 1 debut, “Full of run, going away,” according to the official chart of her 4 ½ length win. The Tah Dah is run at 5 ½ furlongs, and after her impressive debut, that extra ½ furlong should not be a reach for her.
Megan reports that if all stays on schedule, the Emerald Necklace and Glacial Princess are late season targets. Asked why these two races are important she stated. “These are the only Accredited 2yo Filly stakes of the year. They are our 2024 goal with all 2yo Acc Fillies. All of my current training on the 2yo girls now is in preparation for races in October & November. That doesn't mean that they will all make it, but that is certainly the goal.” Bred by Mapleton Farm, “Bonnie” brought a final bid of $40,000 at the Ohio Sale with HMDC partnering with Tast of Victory Stable. She is a daughter of Cowtown Cat out of Love Spun by Hard Spun.
HMDC Partner Connections in Friday Stakes: $75,000 Horizon 1 1/16 Turf.
May Mahem – bred by Mapleton Farm, a son of Mobil who stands at Duncan Farms.
Kellehar – bred by Duncan Farms by their stallion Corfu.
$75,000 Vivacious 1 1/16 Turf for Fillies and Mares
Generous Lover – bred by Smokin C LLC this will be a homecoming of sorts. Sold for $175,000 at the Ocala Sale of 2022, the son of Bolt d’Oro will be making his first start in Ohio after racing at the Fair Grounds, Oaklawn and Churchill Downs. His original connections lost him off a winning effort in a $50,000 claiming race at Churchill on May to trainer Joe Sharp. Put in a $50,000 test six weeks later Generous Lover won driving going 1 1/16 miles, pushing his 7-race career total to $129,470.
