Dewey Doit earned John Servis his 2000th win. (Nikki Sherman/EQUI-PHOTO)
Trainer John Servis Gets Career Win 2,000 Plus One
By Maribeth Kalinich with Equibase Footnotes
It was Pennsylvania-bred Day at Parx with a 13-race card including seven stakes worth $700,000. Players were rewarded handily as there were quite a few surprises at the wire. John Servis was rewarded with his 2000th career win in the first race on the card.
Peweter Stable and Renzo A. Bontempo’s Mia Tosca under Paco Lopez took the first featured stakes, the $100,000 Dr. Teresa Garofalo Memorial Stakes earning Black Type.
Mia Tosca saved ground off the pace, angled out on the turn, moved wide in the stretch and wore down the leaders in the final furlong. Golden Tabby raced in closest pursuit of the pacesetter and continued gamely while outfinished late. Gunfyre Gal raced inside within striking range and continued willingly to the finish. Sundria trailed in the opening quarter racing inside then made a gradual gain in the stretch. Midnight In Alaska quickly took control with a sizeable advantage, led to midstretch and weakened in the final eighth. Remain Anonymous outrun early, steadied in tight near the three eighths pole then offered only a mild bid. La Cienega broke alertly then dropped back and gave way readily.
Fractions were a quick opening quarter of 22.22 followed by 46.32 and 59.78. The final time for the six furlongs on the main track was 1:13.71 with the record set by Iredell December 30, 2017, at 1:07.21.
Mia Tosca rewarded her faithful with a nice $26.40 for the win, 6.80 for place and 4.00 for show. Golden Tabby paid punters $3.20 and 2.80 for second and Gunfire Gal rewarded $3.40 for show.
Trained by Kathleen A. Demasi, this was the 4-year-old’s first stakes win. The chestnut filly has four wins in 13 starts with two seconds and four thirds earning $200,228. Running at the allowance level, her last stakes start was a third in the Main Line at Parx March 8, 2022.
Bred by Blackstone Farm LLC, Mia Tosca is by Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom out of Smart Strike mare Queen Sheherzade.
The boys were up next in the $100,000 Marshall Jenney Handicap, a five-furlong dash on the turf.
Trainer Michael Moore’s homebred Talented Man with Andy Hernandez aboard bested Witty under Carol Cedeno by a head.
Talented Man engaged in a headed duel, repelled that rival near midstretch, was challenged from again and held on tenaciously in a very game showing. Witty stalked the dueling pacesetters three wide, bid into the stretch, loomed a threat but could not get by the winner. Smooth B settled inside the dueling leaders, awaited room on the turn and stretch, angled out to secure space and rallied too late. Fore Harp battled outside winner to the eighth pole and weakened. Wizky’s On The Bay dropped back after the start and trailed throughout.
O’Brien, Tuff Constitution and Uncle Dar were all scratches by trainers.
Owned by Hardesty Stables, the 4-year-old has hit the board seven times in 14 starts with six wins and one second garnering $240,090 in earnings. This was the bay gelding’s first stakes win.
Fractions were 22.79 and 46.66 with a final time of 58.82 with the record set by the legendary Ben’s Cat on June 17, 2012 at a very speedy 54.96.
Talented Man rewarded bettors with $10.80 for the win, $3.20 for place and $3.20 for show. Witty paid $2.40 and 2.10 with Smooth B in third paying $3.20.
Out of the Musket Man mare Musket Mary, Talented Man was sired by Talent Search.
The $100,000 Miss Blue Tye Dye Stakes for juvenile fillies at five- and one-half furlongs on the main track was next with a full field of nine.
Gilman Hallenbeck’s homebred Jody’s Ruby gave trainer John Servis his 2,001st win and second of the day with Abner Adorno getting the leg up and his second on the day
Jody’s Ruby pursued the dueling leaders, moved inside rivals in the stretch then edged clear through the late stages. Sirani prompted the pace outside, was carried out in the stretch and was just up for the place. One Eyed Jackie hustled to the front inside, drifted out badly in the stretch and tired in the final furlong. Miss Ellary dropped far behind wide then offered some energy outside. Steal The Deal trailed to the turn then closed well along the inside in the stretch. Normandy Life moved briefly closer on the turn then faltered. Corona Campione raced along the inside and faded. Honorable Chill raced off the leaders three wide and gave way. Bay Bay Birdie saved ground and stopped abruptly.
This was the chestnut filly’s first win in three starts. She has two thirds with $67,080 in earnings $55,200 from her win today.
Fractions were 22.78, 47.93 and 1:01.74 with a final time of 1:09.56.
Jody’s Ruby gave punters $7.80 for the win, $4.40 for place and $3.20 for show. Sirani paid $3.80 and 3.20 with One Eyed Jackie in third paying $3.80.
Another Talent Search offspring, this 2-year-old is out of Broken Vow mare Mary Cole.
The next stakes, the $100,000 Banjo Picker Sprint, would see two seasoned pros duel down the stretch. Michael Moore trainee Twisted Ride, Andy Hernandez up, finally staved off the Butch Reid trained Beren, a multiple-stakes winner also graded stakes placed, with Abner Adorno aboard.
Twisted Ride forced the pace outside, edged to the front nearing the quarter pole, was challenged again from his outside and held on determinedly. Beren broke slowest, advanced inside, angled out on the turn, loomed a threat in midstretch but could not get by the winner. Uncle Ernie chased off the pace outside and flattened out in the stretch. Magicnthemoonlight dueled the winner for half a mile and gave way. Word On A Wing displayed poor action from the start, was soon eased and vanned off afterward.
Gordian Knot, One Moore Scoop and Picture this were all scratches by the trainers.
Fractions for the six furlongs sprint were 22.43, 46.40 and 59.44 with a final time of 1:12.90.
Twisted Ride gave players $5.60 for the win, $3.20 for place and $2.10 for show. Beren paid $3.60 and 2.20 with Uncle Ernie in third paying $2.10.
Breaking his maiden on second asking, Twisted Ride won his first stakes at Parx in the City of Brotherly Love Stakes March 8, 2022. He followed up with a third in an allowance, a lackluster performance in the Crowd Pleaser, a win in an allowance, mediocre performance with two seconds in a string of four races and then hit a string of four wins that included the Fishtown Stakes and Page McKenney Handicap. He followed up with a second in the Grade 3 Runhappy at Belmont and a miss in the Grade 3 Nerud.
Owned by Kasey K Racing Stable LLC, Michael R. Day and Final Turn Racing Stable LLC, the bay gelding was bred by Kasey K Racing Stable and is by Great Notion out of Tenpins mare Pennsylvania-bred Diva’s Gold.
With a strong record of 17 starts the 4-year-old has eight firsts with three seconds and two thirds with earnings of $448,128.
The $100,000 Whistle Pig Stakes for 2-year-old males was up next with Calypso Stables’ Gamboling Ghost taking top honors guided by Jairo Rendon for trainer Jason DaCosta in a hearty field of ten.
Gamboling Ghost chased off the pace outside, bid very wide in the stretch, offered a late surge and quickly drew off. Chilling Hassle vied outside, moved clear in midstretch, was collared and continued willingly. Lost And Confused lacked speed, rallied inside on the turn and closed well. Standpoint raced just off the pace, came over slightly near the half mile pole, bid turn. Force Of Justice engaged in a duel along the inside to the stretch and faltered. I Can Do Magic dropped back at the start, raced well back and was never a factor. Whiskeyromeosierra was forced in and taken up sharply near the half mile pole and lacked a further response. Addyson’s Dream lacked speed, moved very wide and failed to menace. Rebel Invasion flashed speed inside then began fading on the turn. Poker Partner stumbled badly at the break, was bothered near the half mile pole and gave way.
Fractions for the six furlongs sprint were 22.59, 47.26 and 1:00.72 with a final time of 1:07.62 for the five- and one-half furlongs on the main track.
Gamboling Ghost rewarded his faithful with a generous $19.20 for the win, $9.80 for place and $6.00 for show. Chilling Hassle paid well at $18.60 and 12.00 with Lost and Confused in third paying $8.40 making for a very nice trifecta.
The 2-year-old gelding has two wins in his three starts with $72,750 in earning
The gray, bred by Cynthia M Bartkowski & Scott A Bunker, is by Weigelia and is out of Mizzen Mast mare Dancingwithdebbie, from whom he gets his color.
A router for males at one mile and seventy yards, the $100,000 Storm Cat Stakes, was won assertively by 3-1/4 lengths by Joseph Imbesi’s homebred Buy Land and See ridden by Michael Sanchz for trainer Guadalupe Preciado garnering his trainee a 107 Equibase Speed Figure.
Buy Land And See forced the pace outside, led before half a mile, shook loose on the final turn and remained safe under moderate pressure. Nimitz Class rated close up between rivals, went after the winner on the turn but proved no match while lasting for the place. King Kumbalay settled just off the pace inside, eased back and to the outside on the final turn and closed well while no threat. Market Maven was urged close up three wide to the final turn and faltered. Irish Cork trailed for half a mile and was never in contention. Allevare briefly clear inside, was collared before half a mile and gave way.
Far Mo Power was scratched by his trainer.
The pedestrian fractions were 23.62, 48.45, 1:13.84 and 1:40.85 with a final time of 1:45.08 with the record set by Tragedy December 12, 1995, at 1:38.70.
Buy Land and See also paid fairly well at $12.20 for the win, $3.00 for place and $3.00 for show. Nimitz Class, the favorite, paid $2.20 and 2.20 with King Kumbalay in third paying $2.80 making for a very nice trifecta.
The very seasoned 5-year-old has eight wins in 19 starts with three seconds and four thirds earning $572,870.
Buy Land and See has wins in the Awad at Belmont Park, the With Anticipation twice at Penn National, the Alphabet Soup Handicap and the M.P. Ballezzi Appreciation Mile, both at Parx.
The gray is by Cairo Prince and is out of Maria’s Mon mare Twiggles.
With a deep field of 13 this was a router for the ladies at one mile and a sixteenth on the turf that would pair trainer Butch Reid again with jockey Abner Adorno. This time Adorno would score his third win on the day aboard Milam Racing Stables’ Neecie Marie in the $100,000 Mrs. Penny Stakes.
Neecie Marie lagged far behind, swung extremely wide rallying into the stretch and moved clear. In a Spin settled off the pace inside then closed well to just gain the place. Eight Danzas dropped well behind then closed well just missing the place. Princess Runaway controlled the pace, widened on the final turn then weakened. Vanilla Bean lacked speed then continued well without menacing. Getaway Palace moved close up inside for three quarters and faltered. Pageant Princess chased within striking range outside under rating and gave way. Color Crush settled off the leaders and lacked a solid rally. Swan Point dropped far behind and was never in contention. Misquillo trailed to the final turn and was no factor. Morning Matcha dropped back after the start and lacked a response. Trolley Ride rated just off the pace three wide and gave way. Social Success prompted the pace to the final turn and stopped abruptly.
Date Night Kisses was main track only. Doctor Abbie and Maldives Model were trainer scratches.
The fractions and final time were not available. The record set by Pumpkin Rumble September 21, 2019, at 1:40.21.
Neecie Marie paid at $6.60 for the win, $3.60 for place and $3.00 for show. In a Spin paid $4.40 and 3.00 with Eight Danzas in third paying $9.20 being the best bet.
The 3-year-old has scored four wins in six starts with $148,500 in earnings This was her first stakes and second consecutive win.
Bred by Jon A. Marshall, the bay filly is by Cross Traffic and is out of Posse mare Lode Lady.
Trainer John Servis Gets Career Win 2,000 Plus One
John Servis kicked off the day with a bang winning Race 1 and scoring career win number 2,000 at Parx with Tilted Shamrock Racing Stables LLC’s Dewey Doit under Abner Adorno who scored his first of the day.
Service would get win 2,001 in the Miss Blue Tye Dye Stakes, also with Adorno, with Jody’s Ruby.
With 11,343 starts, Service has made 222 this year with 38 wins, 39 seconds and 29 thirds earning $1,900,183 with career earnings of just under $70 million.
Coming close to winning the Triple Crown in 2004, Servis won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness with Smarty Jones but came up just short in the Belmont Stakes.
The conditioner won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies with Jaywalk in 2018.
Servis also trained millionaire Jostle who won the Alabama, Kentucky Oaks queen Cathryn Sophia, Grade 1 Acorn winner Round Pond, Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie winner Ms Locust Point and Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks winner Leader of the Band.
He also trained Grade 3 winners Zonk (Delaware Oaks), Res Judicata (Salvator Mile) and Notapradaprince (Dr. James Penny Memorial Stakes).
Abner Adorno would end up with three wins on the day with Dewey Doit in Race 1, and Jody’s Ruby in Race 8, both for Servis, and a win in the Mrs. Penny aboard Neecie Marie for Butch Reid. He also finished second for both Servis and Reid and a third for Servis.
Other Winners on the Day at Parx …
