NEWS
Memorial Maniac sets record in Stars and Stripes
Posted: Saturday, August 21, 2010 7:12 PM
MEMORIAL MANIAC RALLIES PAST LEMONADE KID IN STARS AND STRIPES
Four Footed Fotos
To watch a replay of the Stars and Stripes, click here.
by Ron Parker
Butterfly Stable’s Memorial Maniac proved best in a three-horse drive to the finish line, winning the $100,000 Stars and Stripes Turf Stakes (G3) in course-record time on Saturday at Arlington Park.
Memorial Maniac scored by a neck from Lemonade Kid and covered 1 5/8 miles in 2:44.29 on turf rated as good. The time eclipsed the previous record of 2:45 set 59 years ago by Coincident on July 26, 1951.
Longshot Rumor Has It went to the front in the three-turn race and was allowed to open up a ten-length lead through a half-mile in :49.41. The rest of the Stars and Stripes field began to close in on Rumor Has It and rolled past on the final turn.
Free Fighter, winner of the 2009 Stars and Stripes, was the first to take over but soon was joined by Lemonade Kid as Memorial Maniac charged up on the outside. The three horses raced in close quarters before Memorial Maniac edged past Lemonade Kid. Free Fighter tired late, finishing 3½ lengths behind Lemonade Kid in third.
Ridden by jockey James Graham for trainer Larry Demeritte, the five-year-old Lear Fan gelding entered the Stars and Stripes off a victory in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming race at Arlington on July 23, also with Graham in the saddle.
Out of the Cozzene mare Enlightening, Memorial Maniac posted his fourth victory from 25 career starts and increased his earnings to 154,445. He was bred in Kentucky by Donamire Farm.
Ron Parker is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
For an Equibase chart, click here.
