From June 3 through June 14, eight graduates of South Carolina farms and training centers reached the winner’s circle following Stakes races.
Maldives Model and Nimitz Class, graduates of Randy and Kala’s Rentz Farm Training Center in Erhardt, SC, won Stakes at Penn National on June 3. Maldives Model broke on top and never looked back in the Lyphard Stakes crossing the finish line 1 ½ lengths in front.
Nimitz Class had an eventful trip in the Danzig Stakes. Towards the back of the pack early on, he angled to the outside, encountered traffic before moving up between horses and in a sustained drive, got up to win by ¾’s of a length. Nimitz Class has recorded 4 wins in 6 lifetime starts.
On June 5, I’m Listening proved best in the Smart N Cassy Handicap at Monmouth Park. This former student of Donna Freyer at her Custom Care Equine operation in Camden, won her first Stakes in her 38’th career start. Mid-pack early on, I’m Listening took the lead in upper stretch and showed heart and determination to win by a ½ length. This 8-year-old mare has earned $307,604 during her career.
On the same day, Dreaming of Drew captured her third Stakes win in the Belle Mahone Stakes at Woodbine. She quickly took the lead after the start and maintained her advantage throughout coasting to a 2 ¾ length victory. This filly went through the breaking process at the Travis Durr Training Center in St. Matthews. In 8 career starts, Dreaming of Drew has 4 wins, 2 seconds and a 3rd with earnings of $332,417.
Miss Leslie recorded her second Stakes win in a row proving best in the Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park on June 8. Also a graduate of the Travis Durr Training Center, Miss Leslie trailed the field for the opening ½ mile. Launching her bid during the turn for home, Miss Leslie was 7 wide while passing foes reaching the finish line a ½ length in front. This was Miss Leslie’s sixth career Stakes win and she has earned $565,650.
Hungarian Princess, who learned her early lessons at Franklin “Goree” Smith’s Elloree Training Center, captured her fourth Stakes victory in the Shelby County Stakes on June 8. All of her Stakes wins have been at Horseshoe Indianapolis. While racing five wide, Hungarian Princess sat right behind the leaders before taking over the lead approaching the 1/8th pole. She made it to the wire a length in front of the rest of the field. She has 8 wins, 4 seconds and a 3rd in 15 career starts. Hungarian Princess has accumulated earnings totaling $383,879.
Leader of the Band gained her second Stakes victory winning the Lady’s Secret at Monmouth Park on June 11. This filly came up through the Rentz Farm Training Center program. She stalked the leaders before coming three wide. Leader of the Band battled the length of the stretch and proved best by a head.
Eons is now a four time Stakes winner capturing the Bensalem Match Series Stakes at PARX on June 14. While trailing the field early, Eons moved outside to lead the field into the stretch and then would not be denied winning by a nose. Eons was prepared for his racing career by Brad Stauffer and Ron Stevens in Aiken. The parents of his owner, Mark Grier, were longtime residents of Aiken. During his career, Eons has raced over 11 different racetracks!
