The son of American Ideal-Ladyortra-On The Road Again is owned and was bred by the White Birch Farm and is trained by Kelvin Harrison, and now has four wins in seven career starts for these connections.
“My colt can get a little anxious in a hole at times, but down the lane I knew that horse was going to keep going, so I wasn’t that concerned,” Sears said. “He’s got some greenness issues but I think he’ll just keep getting better. He was pretty good today.”
Sears moved In The Arsenal to the top early, tripping the timer in :28.1 at the quarter and in :56 at the half, before giving up the lead to the hard-pacing Artspeak (Scott Zeron). It appeared the unbeaten Artspeak was well on his way to another victory, but in the late going, the robust colt went off stride, allowing In The Arsenal to move to the inside and sweep under the wire first. It also allowed Cartoon Daddy (Yannick Gingras) to notch the runner-up spot from the outside.
In The Arsenal was a $7,500 yearling purchase from the 2013 Standardbred Horse Sale at Harrisburg, and is the 14th foal out of his dam. He is a half-brother to Exquisite Art (by Artsplace) p,3,1:50.4 ($578,544) and to Queen Otra (by Artsplace) p,4,1:51 ($200,837).
The first division of the Roll With Joe International Stallion Stakes saw Rich Wisdom add another feather to his cap as he posted a career best 1:51 score decisively for Yannick Gingras.
Owned by Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, JJK Stables, and Philip Colura, the son of Dragon Again-Wisom-Artplace picked up his third win of the season in ten starts, pushing his career earnings to $142,290.
“I raced him a PASS consolation where he was okay, but it seems like he’s really figured things out now,” Gingras said. “They were pacing plenty and my colt wasn’t as aggressive as usual, but he did keep on going. It’s really windy here today and the hard breeze is on our back, so I don’t think anyone will be winning being fourth or fifth at the top of the stretch today.”
JD He’s Da Bomb left hard from the gate but McArdles Lightening (Corey Callahan) brushed quickly past him to the :27 first quarter. Asap Hanover (Tim Tetrick) then rushed up to take command just past the :54.3 half going into the last turn. Rich Wisdom then proceeded to move up and was a head in front on the outside at the 1:23.1 three-quarters. From there, the burly pacer continued to eat up racetrack, finishing a length ahead of McArdles Lightening at the wire, with Asap Hanover notching third.
A $30,000 yearling purchase at the 2013 Lexington Selected Sale, Rich Wisdom is the third and most prolific foal out of his dam Wisdom.
Lost For Words cruised to a 1:50.4 career best clocking in the second $72,000 division of the Roll With Joe International Stallion Stakes for driver David Miller. The son of Well Said-Thou Shall Not-Real Desire upped his career earnings with the win to $186,337 for owners Country Club Acres, William Robinson, Richard Lombardo, and the Strollin Stable.
Berkley was hustled away quickly from the gait by Ron Pierce, with Gallic Beach (Tim Tetrick) in hot pursuit and eventually grabbing the lead at the :27.2 first quarter. Positions remained unchanged through the :54.3 half with Lost For Words content to remain in fourth. Traceur Hanover (Jody Jamieson) then pulled first-up, with Lost For Words close on his heels to the 1:23 three-quarters. From there, the race was over as Lost For Words slingshotted off his cover and simply cruised to the wire in hand for his Hall of Fame reinsman.
The win was the third straight for the Lost For Words, who is conditioned by Brian Brown. The bay colt now has five wins and two seconds in nine career starts.
Longshot Hall Of Terror surged up in the final strides to capture the final $72,000 Roll With Joe International Stallion Stakes in a career best clocking of 1:51.3 for driver Mark MacDonald and trainer Erv Miller. The 15-1 longshot returned $32.60 on a two-dollar ticket.
“The Lasix seemed to make all the difference with this colt and Erv trained him up well this week and that seemed to make a big improvement with him,” MacDonald said. “We got a perfect trip and the horse just benefitted from that, but still did his work to win.”
Hall Of Terror used a second-over trip after Talking Points (David Miller) took the field of seven through opening splits of :27 and :55.2 before Joe Hill (Scott Zeron) came charging at the leader first up. Hall Of Terror settled right on his back around the final turn and then used the perfect trip to his advantage to garner the triumph.
A $67,000 yearling purchase at the 2013 Lexington Selected Sale, Hall Of Terror has five wins in ten starts this season for owners Erv Miller Stable, Ron Michelon, Paymaq Racing, and Louis Willinger. The son of Western Terror-Maytime Hall-Cambest is a full brother to Maytime Terror p, 5,1:49.4f ($270,923).