NEWS
Plantation wins stakes debut in Private Terms
Posted: Saturday, March 20, 2010 7:05 PM
PLANTATION
Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
To view the Private Terms Stakes, click here.
by Ron Parker
Nellie Mae Cox’s Plantation made his stakes debut in the $57,400 Private Terms Stakes at Laurel Park on Saturday, and the three-year-old Luftikus gelding handled the step up in class to extend his career record to four wins in as many starts.
The one-mile race drew a field of seven, six of them geldings, and Reckless Runner took charge at the start with Plantation tracking from second.
Turning for home, Plantation moved up to challenge for the lead, pushing his head in front of a dead game Reckless Runner, who battled to the finish line to secure second, a half-length behind of Plantation.
“We just sat off the pace and hoped they’d run out there a little bit so we didn’t get in a speed duel,” said winning jockey Travis Dunkelberger. “He settled good and ran down the lane. He’s learned something every race. He’s getting better and better and better.”
Regal Warrior finished another 1½ lengths back in third while 9-to-10 favorite Dont Blame the Cat was never a factor, finishing fifth.
Plantation covered one mile in 1:37.18 on a track rated as fast.
Bred in West Virginia by Nellie Cox and Rose Retreat, Plantation won his lone two-year-old start at Laurel before trainer Rodney Jenkins shipped him to Charles Town Races, where he started this year with a pair of allowance victories against West Virginia-breds, giving him three victories in as many starts with a combined winning margin of ten lengths.
“He’s a very big horse and is very deceiving,” Jenkins said. “When you watch this horse run, he looks like he’s cantering. Probably has one of the best minds I’ve ever had around a horse.”
Plantation, who has earned $79,560, is out of the Chenin Blanc mare Stalda.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Ron Parker is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
