Vasari scores one of his four wins for Al Barnes in Queensland
Old battle axe Vasari scores again at Saratoga, extending good trot for ex Lincoln Farms team
By Barry Lichter • 16 December 2019
Former Lincoln Farms pacer Vasari has won his second race in the United States, showing plenty of grit to get off the canvas at Saratoga in New York.
Vasari, who won 16 races from 86 starts in New Zealand and Australia for trainers Ray Green, Sonya Smith and Al Barnes before his sale in August, lined up a short-priced favourite in a US$11,700 mile on Saturday night.
And while burned for early speed by Warrawee Nonsuch, driver Jim Devaux quickly took up the running.
Attacked hard a long way from home by Blaise Mm Hanover, Vasari looked vulnerable at the top of the stretch but fought back gamely to score in a close photo finish.
The win took his American record to two wins and three placings from 10 starts for US$27,000 in stakes for owner Kevin Quinn and trainer Paul Zabielski.
And while he clocked only 1:55.8, Barnes says that was considered good time in the cold conditions on a sloppy track.
The Art Major six-year-old took a lifetime mark of 1:52 for Barnes at Albion Park in May.
Vasari joins other Lincoln Farms’ graduates to win recently in Trojan Banner and Lincoln’s Girl.
Trojan Banner, who scored on his US debut, ran again at Dover Downs and while only fifth in 1:52.2, trainer Jim King was pleased with the run which reportedly saw him run a half in 53 after starting from seven on the gate.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
