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South Carolina Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
The first stride to the finish line begins in South Carolina
Racing Across 
the Nation
During the time frame of September 22 through October 19, four South Carolina training center graduates found their way to the winner’s circle at the end of Stakes races in New York, Maryland (twice), and Canada.

Hit the Post, developed for his racing career by Frank Wooten in Camden, SC, was last out of the gate, then quickly moved up to take the lead in the Ontario County Stakes at Finger Lakes on September 22. He was never threatened, continually increasing his lead and crossing the finish line 6 ½ lengths in front. Hit the Post is owned by Old Tavern Farm, LLC, trained by Melanie Giddings, and was ridden by Christopher Elliott. This 3-year-old New York-bred gelding by Kantheros has 2 wins and 2 seconds in 7 career starts. He finished second in the New York Derby and Albany Stakes this year and has $168,783 in earnings.

On Maryland Million Day at Laurel Park on October 11, Barbadian Runner proved best in the Maryland Million Classic Stakes. Racing in the third position from the start to the top of the stretch. In a hard-fought victory, Barbadian Runner outdueled Post Time in the race to the wire by ¾’s of a length. Barbadian Runner is a graduate of Bobby and Jason McCutchen’s training center in Kingstree, SC. This 3-year-old gelding by Barbados has run ten times this year, winning 5 of his starts and finishing second 3 times. All 5 of his victories have been in Stakes races. Barbadian Runner is owned by Win Stables, LLC, trained by Henry Walters, and was ridden by Forest Boyce. The second-place finisher, Post Time, is a graduate of Cary Frommer’s breaking program when she was in Aiken.

On the same day at Laurel Park, Coringa captured the Maryland Million Turf Stakes. This son of Practical Joke took the lead soon after the start and never looked back, cruising to a 1 ¼ length victory. After going through the breaking process at the Travis Durr Training Center, Coringa began his career in a Maiden Claiming race and has now become a Stakes winner. The Maryland Million Turf Classic was his first Stakes appearance in 14 career starts. He is owned by Clark Ohrstom, Gregory Kelka, Awestruck Racing, and Benjamin Gowans. He was saddled by Mike Trombetta and ridden by Mychal Sanchez.

Reload Raleigh, another graduate of Durr’s program, captured the Frost King Stakes at Woodbine in only his third career start on October 19. This 2-year-old son of Reload, after an awkward beginning, quickly advanced, taking the lead before long. He opened up a 3-length advantage, then had to hold off a challenger and would not be denied winning by a head. He is owned by Kevin Drew, trained by Barbara Minshall, and was ridden by Ryan Munger.