Racing Across the Nation
The year 2020 ended and 2021 began with 7 horses prepared for their racing careers in South Carolina finding the winner’s circle following stakes races between December 20 and January 20.
On December 26, Sir Anthony, conditioned by Tony Mitchell in Aiken last winter, captured the H. Allen Jerkens S. at Gulfstream Park. In this two mile turf marathon, Sir Anthony raced mid-pack for the opening 1 ½ miles. He then made the lead inside the 1/8th pole and won by ¾’s of a length.
On the same day at Laurel Park in Maryland, No Cents extended his winning streak to 4 in the Heft S. Having gone through the breaking process at Travis Durr’s Webb Carroll Training Center, No Cents had two beat early on in the Heft S. He battled with a few others in the stretch and prevailed by a neck.
Another Durr graduate, Miss Leslie, captured her third win in a row in the Anne Arundel S. for 2-year-old fillies also at Laurel Park on December 26. Sixth after the first half-mile, she came 4 wide into the stretch and showed good courage approaching the wire splitting rivals putting her head in front just before the finish line.
Hembree has won three stakes during his career. He finished first in the Joe Hernandez S. at Santa Anita on January 1. Hembree trailed the field down the backstretch. Taking an inside path, he picked up his pace approaching the stretch passing the field and reached the wire ¾’s of a length in front. Hembree has made 41 career starts winning 9 and earning $927,371. He is a product of the Webb Carroll Training Center program.
Manny Wah came from last in the Duncan F. Kenner S. at Fair Grounds on January 16. He came flying down the stretch and hit the wire 1 ¼ lengths in front. Manny Wah learned his early lessons at Franklin “Goree” Smith’s Elloree Training Center. In 23 career starts, he has finished in the top three 16 times and has earnings totaling $501,888.
On the same day, another Elloree Training Center graduate, Logical Myth, finished first in the Colonel E. R. Bradley S. also at Fair Grounds. This stakes win follows his victory in the Buddy Diliberto S. at the same location on December 19. In the Colonel E. R. Bradley S., Logical Myth stalked the pace before showing his superiority in the stretch extending his lead to 2 ¼ lengths at the finish.
In New York, Bella Aurora proved best in the Interborough S. at Aqueduct on January 18. Last until approaching the stretch, Bella Aurora went by them all during the final ¼ mile and won by a length. She was prepared for her racing career by longtime South Carolina trainer Wes Carter.
