South Carolina Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
The first stride to the finish line begins in South Carolina
Five South Carolina training center graduates crossed the finish line first in Stakes races between November 27 and December 7.
Two Randy and Kala Rentz Training Center students won Stakes at PARX and Penn National on November 27. The 2-year-old gelding, Crab Daddy, proved best in the Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes at PARX. Second early on, Crab Daddy had to steady for a moment before rallying in the stretch and drawing away late to win by 3 ¾ lengths. In his two career starts, he has a win and a second place finish. Tudox Opportunity captured his first Stakes victory in the Chocolate Town Stakes at Penn National on the same day. Tudox Opportunity battled for the lead for the first ½ mile. He then put his head in front in this one mile race and would not be denied proving best by ¾’s of a length. He has 6 wins in 11 career starts.
On December 1, Sacred Wish became a Grade 1 Stakes winner besting her opposition in the Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar. She is now a two-time Stakes winner. Sacred Wish stalked the leaders to the top of the stretch. She angled out and in a hard fought stretch run, Sacred Wish reached the finish line a neck in front. In 17 career starts, she has finished in the top three thirteen times, including 4 wins, and has accumulated $985,138 in career earnings. Sacred Wish was prepared for her racing career by Cary Frommer in Aiken.
On December 7, Donna Freyer saw two of her former students win Stakes. Get Smokin is a 6-time Stakes winner after capturing the Valedictory Stakes-G3 at Woodbine. Five of his Stakes wins have been Grade 2 or 3’s. In the Valedictory Stakes, Get Smokin broke on top and never looked back. He was in total command throughout the race and crossed the finish line 3 ¾ lengths in front. Get Smokin’s career earnings have now climbed to $2,131,484.
Tony Eclipse, bred and owned by Camden Training Center owner and SCTOBA member Stuart Grant’s The Elkstone Group LLC, pressed the leader to the top of the stretch before taking control and cruising to a 3 ¾ length victory in The Maryland Juvenile Stakes at Laurel Park. As a 2-year-old, Tony Eclipse has started 5 times recording 2 wins, a second and a third place finish.