by Myra Lewyn

Montesano Racing’s He’s Hammered led at every point of call en route to an emphatic 6 ¾-length victory in the $88,725 Buck’s Boy Handicap, one of six stakes for Illinois-breds on the Phil Georgeff Festival of Racing program.

The seven-year-old Rubiano gelding was never challenged after leading by a length through a half-mile and extending his advantage to four lengths in early stretch. Ridden by Eduardo Perez, He’s Hammered earned his first stakes win by covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.77 on a track rated as fast.

Stonehouse finished second, 1 ¼ lengths clear of Win Me Over. Bid Rushlet, the 2.10-to-1 favorite, never fired and finished sixth in the eight-horse field.

He’s Hammered won for the first time in five starts this season. He entered off a runner-up finish in a 6 ½-furlong race for $25,000 claimers at Hawthorne on October 17.  He has finished on the board in 28 of 47 career starts, winning five races and placing in stakes races at both at Hawthorne and Arlington Park, while earning $292,899.

Bred by Lothenbach Stables, He’s Hammered is out of the Tank’s Prospect mare All Tanked Up.

Carts Italian Rose won the $110,125 Showtime Deb Stakes for two-year-old fillies by a head as the 7.90-to-1 fourth choice. The Cartwright filly gained the lead in the stretch, was briefly headed, and battled back to prevail.

Mighty Rule was bumped at the start of the $87,900 Lightning Jet Handicap for three-year-olds and older, and pursued early pacesetter Shrewd Operator from second, four lengths back, through a half-mile. The four-year-old Gilded Time gelding drew to within a head of that foe in early stretch and drew clear late to win by 1 ¾ lengths.

Lampoon zipped from just off the pace to score by four lengths in the $91,275 Illini Princess Handicap for fillies and mares. The four-year-old Distorted Humor filly finished second in last year’s edition of the 1 1/16-mile race.

Dakota Rebel pulled an upset in the $100,300 Sun Power Stakes for two-year-old males when landing the six-furlong test by one length at odds of 44.20-to-1. The Kugelis colt is undefeated in two career starts.

Denoun N Deverb added another stakes win to her resume when she prevailed by a head in the $105,375 Powerless Handicap for fillies and mares.

The five-year-old Denouncer mare won her 11th race in 29 career starts and boosted her earnings to $292, 067. She overhauled the front-runners and held off Modjadji by a three-quarters of a length.

Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times daily news editor

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