Alabama Rain had a return to his top form today as he bested eight rivals in the $30,000 added Portland Meadows Mile. The 6 year-old son of Vying Victor sat a good trip behind early speedsters Happy One, Brave Hearted, Stealth Attack and Flaming Bullet, who stacked up for much of the first half mile. Alabama Rain saved ground on the far turn for jockey A.L. Gutierrez, who kicked his horse out for the drive as they entered the stretch. From there it was a matter of getting by a valiant Brave Hearted who stayed on for second. I am Thor overcame a tough trip after being carried out entering the stretch to finish up third.
Alabama Rain races for winning owners Lance Giesbrecht and Gordon Christoff. The British Columbia bred has now amassed over $450,000 in career earnings with nine wins in thirty five starts.
Those who backed Alabama Rain at the windows got $59.80 for every two dollars to win. The exacta with Brave Hearted returned $210.60 with I am Thor completing a two dollar trifecta worth $3,444.40. Final time for the mile distance was 1:37.90.
The upset by Alabama Rain also helped to give one lucky customer the lone winning Pick 5 ticket, returning a whopping $25,306.40 for a one dollar wager. The Pick 5 pool was guaranteed at $20,000 by Portland Meadows, with the final pool surpassing that at $30,789.
The win in the Mile for trainer Tom Longstaff caps off an emotional weekend, as on Saturday evening, his former star Lethal Grande was honored by the OTOBA as the Top Older Horse and Horse of the Year.
Blanding runs farther and faster than everyone to win the Donna Jensen Handicap
Blanding was able to get the lead and keep it the entire mile and one sixteenth journey to win the $20,000 Donna Jensen Handicap. But the win was not without challenges, both from competitors and herself. The 6 year-old daughter of Wild Deputy broke from the outside post and stayed there, running most of the race in about the four path.
Jockey Clark Jones was able to settle her a bit going down the backstretch, but as the field rounded the far turn, she bore out and raced into the stretch about seven wide. But for all the ground she lost, her heart was more important as she staved off the rallies of both favored Musical Wine and Lady Yodeler, prevailing by a half-length. Musical Wine ended up second with Lady Yodeler finishing up third.
The win marked the sixth career victory from twenty two starts for Blanding, who is now 2 for 4 racing at Portland Meadows. Jim Ferguson trained the winner for winning owners David T. Green and Just Horsen Around.
Final time for the one mile and a sixteenth Donna Jensen Handicap was 1:49.11.