Trojan Banner is too good for Romantic Interest with ex Kiwi Glengarry Knight third.
Trojan Banner opens 2020 in style at Dover Downs as Dexter closes 2019 an award winner
By Barry Lichter • 6 January 2020
Former Lincoln Farms pacer Trojan Banner has won his second race in the United States, pacing 1:51.8 at Dover Downs in Delaware.
Trojan Banner, who raced three times late last year for a win and a second (in 1:50), opened the New Year on January 2 with a comfortable win in the hands of champion driver Tim Tetrick.
Trojan Banner, who started at the restrictive odds of 2-5 - which equates to New Zealand’s $1.40 - wasn’t rushed out from the pole position, settling fifth in Indian file.
Tetrick moved up to enjoy the one-one position soon after the bell and when he cruised round three wide turning for home he looked to have the race in safe keeping.
And while Romantic Interest (14-1) held him to a head margin, Trojan Banner was travelling easily at the line, posting sectionals of 26.6, 30.2, 27.2 and 27.8.
Dexter Dunn will receive his driver of the year award in February.The win took Trojan Banner’s US earnings to US$19,650 for owners Richard Poillucci and Jo Ann Looney-King, who bought the horse from Lincoln Farms soon after he had won seven races straight for Queensland trainer Al Barnes.
The win continued the unstoppable march of Tetrick who was the leading money driver in the United States for 2019 with US$15.6 million, ahead of Yannick Gingras on US$13.4 million.
But more notable was the feat of New Zealand’s Dexter Dunn to finish third, with US$12.07 million, earning him the award of driver of the year by the US Harness Writers’ Association in his first full season.
Dunn, who drove in 2696 races and won 460 of them, will receive his award at the annual Dan Patch Awards Banquet, honouring the champions of 2019, in Florida on February 23.
All three of the top drivers were associated with Dan Patch winners, Dunn the regular pilot of top three-year-old male pacer Bettor’s Wish, who notched 13 wins and six seconds from his 19 starts.
Tetrick drove the champion older female pacer Shartin and top two-year-old Captaintreacherous filly Lyons Sentinel while Gingras enjoyed success with top two-year-old Bettor’s Delight colt Tall Dark Stranger, three-year-old Sweet Lou filly Warrawee Ubeaut and older female trotter Atlanta.
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Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
