Easily the hottest thoroughbred on St. Croix, Parachute Coney showed why he is now considered St. Croix champ by clearly winning Sunday’s featured ninth race at the Randall “Doc” James racetrack.
In his last start, Rodney Pitts’ bay gilding surprised many local fans when he crushed former champ Slevin to take the St. Croix Crown. On Sunday he showed that his victory against Slevin was no fluke when he ran by the speedy Simon Sez Run in the stretch and cruised under the wire with a hand ride in a not too shabby time of 1:43.2 for the 1-1/16 miles distance.
Only three horses entered the gate in the feature after two defections from the originally scheduled five starters. St. Croix was represented by the new champ and Simon Sez Run while Twisted Dream represented St. Thomas. At the break, as expected, Simon Sez Run was quickest out of the gates and shot to an early four-length lead, followed by Parachute Coney and Twisted Dream.
As the field raced around the clubhouse turn, one could hear a buzz from the crowd as it began noticing the fractions, set by Simon Sez Run, that flashed on the infield tote board. He took them through fractions of 21.4 for the quarter mile, 46.33 for the half, and 1:10.3 for six furlongs. There was no way Simon Sez could keep up such a blistering pace.
At midway down the backstretch both Parachute Coney and Twisted Dream rushed up on and passed the lead horse. At that point it appeared that the early fractions were beginning to take a toll on the speedster. However, to everyone’s surprise, Simon Sez Run rallied and drew even with the field as they approach the three-eighths pole.
As they raced around the far turn, Twisted Dream was first to throw in the towel and quickly fell off the pace. At the turn for home it was obvious that the champ was running the easier of the two and he gradually drew away to win by two and a half lengths over Simon Sez Run at the wire. Twisted Dream was a distant third.
The rest of the day’s results:
Race1 6 F Classes N-4, Jockey
Time: 1:16.4
1. Eviction, A. Hernandez
2. JPD Yung, C. Soto, Jr.
3. Victoria Secret, W. Gotay
Race2 7 ½ F Classes N-3, Jockey
Time: 1:37
1. Gold Demarshe, A. Hernandez
2. Nick, E. Barnes
3. Delilah, E. Soto
Race3 1 M Class I-5(C/G), Jockey
Time: 1:26.1
1. Burn The Harp, C. Soto
2. Going Blue, A. Hernandez
3. Australis Forever, W. Hurst
Race4 7F N-1, N-2, (M/F) & (C/G), Jockey
Time: 1:41.4
1. Fast Return, J. Hernandez
2. Creation Rebel, A. Hernandez
3. Cruzan Emerald, C. Soto, Jr.
Race5 7 ½ I-4, (M/F), Jockey
Time: 1:32.1
1. Syrophoenician, A. Hernandez
2. My Ocean Beauty, J. Hernandez
3. Catty Patty, W. Gotay
Race6 6 F Open Race, Jockey
Time: 1:11
1. Bambi Bound, M. Sanchez
2. Musicinthenight, A. Viera
3. Costly Approval, A. Claudio
Race7 1-1/16 M I-1,2 & 3, (M/F), Jockey
Time: 1:44.4
1. Turned to Gold, M. Sanchez
2. Imperial Award, J. Hernandez
3. Holy Barbara, C. Soto, Jr.
Race8 1-1/16 M Class I-2&3, (C/G), Jockey
Time: 1:45.3
1. Congo, E. Morales
2. Blast of Macho, M. Sanchez
3. Black Jack Bob, W. Gotay
Race10 1 M Open VI Bred, Jockey
Time: 1:42.3
1. A Bit of Madness, J. Hernandez
2. Aerial Storm, A. Claudio
3. Johann Slew, E. Barnes
