South Carolina Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
The first stride to the finish line begins in South Carolina
Between February 22 and March 8, three South Carolina training center graduates won Stakes races.
On February 22, Barbadian Runner won his second Stakes race in a row capturing the Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel Park. On January 25, he won the Spectacular Bid Stakes also at Laurel. In the Miracle Wood, Barbadian Runner rated behind the leaders before angling out four wide entering the stretch. In a hard-fought stretch long duel, he won by a nose. Barbadian Runner was prepared for his racing career by Bobby and Jason McCutchen at their training center in Kingstree, SC.
On March 1, the 3-year-old filly, Drexel Hill, proved best in the Busher Stakes, a Kentucky Oaks prep race run at Aqueduct. After stumbling before bumping with a foe, Drexel Hill had only one beat for the opening ½ mile. She made her move midway through the turn headed for home and in a very game effort, got up to win by ¾’s of a length. Prepared for her racing career at the Travis Durr Training Center, Drexel Hill has 2 wins. 2 seconds and a third in 7 career starts.
Another Travis Durr graduate, Circle P, was best in the Not For Love Stakes at Laurel Park on March 8. In another very close finish, Circle P found a clear path in the stretch and in the shadow of the wire, got up to put his nose first on the wire. As a 2-year-old in 2023, Circle P won the Maryland Juvenile Stakes, also at Laurel Park.
While not a Stakes victory, Book’em Danno recorded a notable win at Colonial Downs on March 14. In a Handicap race, Book’em Danno was a convincing 2 ½ length winner. He is a graduate of Randy and Kala Rentz’s training center in Erhardt, SC. In 12 career starts, Book’em Danno has 7 wins, including 5 Stakes victories and $1,098,125 in earnings.