It’s that one moment. That one moment when it could happen. It’s really all you want as a bettor, owner, trainer, jockey, writer, fan in this crazy game we play. That one moment when it’s possible. Palpable. Preferably the later the better.
Pietrelcina and Koru gave us those moments yesterday. Pietrelcina crept into it in the opener at Laurel Park pulling Sheldon Russell, who knows to hold onto him as long as possible, into the fray, staying inside. The red cap inching ever closer, ever closer. There was that moment. It didn’t last long as the 5-year-old Maryland-bred leveled off and finished third beaten 2 lengths.
Daily Racing Form: PIETRELCINA stayed along the inner rail down the backstretch and around the far turn, was in hand waiting for room in upper stretch then split horses near the sixteenth pole.
Another placed effort by a horse who has now racked up a second and three thirds in seven starts for Riverdee. For his previous connections, Shamrock Farm and Graham Motion, the son of Noble Mission picked up two seconds and two thirds. Still a maiden but still picking up checks.
Maiden hurdle races at Laurel and Colonial Downs are calling.
Six races later, Koru stumbled at the break, regained his footing, settled near the back, swung wide, reached the lead and, yeah, gave us that moment. Again, it didn’t last long as the audacious move took its toll and the son of Hard Spun wound up second, beaten 2 3/4 lengths by another son of Hard Spun, Chevy Man, trained by McLane Hendriks.
Daily Racing Form: KORU stumbled badly leaving the starting gate, was taken outside horses entering the backstretch, circled the far turn four wide, gained a short lead in upper stretch and weakened.
Koru came back with a sprung shoe and a check for $8,200.
We came back with a second, a third, $12,700 in earnings. And a couple of moments.
