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The Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (PTHA) works hard to protect and provide for the Parx Racing horsemen through the guarantee of live racing, horsemen’s rights, health care and pension for horsemen, benevolence programs, and more.

 

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Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (PTHA)

  /  Racing   /  His Royal Majesty Posts Big Upset in Turning for Home Stakes

His Royal Majesty Posts Big Upset in Turning for Home Stakes

His Royal Majesty rallied from far behind, caught the leaders in mid-stretch and then powered away to a convincing three length victory in the $75,000 Turning for Home Stakes Saturday afternoon at Parx. Now celebrating its 11th anniversary, the race was the centerpiece of an afternoon dedicated to the Turning for Home program, the racing industries leader in finding and providing new homes and new careers, having now placed nearly 2,700 retired thoroughbred race horses.

Taken far back by winning jockey Frankie Pennington, His Royal Majesty turned into the backstretch with only one horse beaten and almost fourteen lengths off pace setter, Dirt in Your Face. With a solid pace to run at, an opening quarter of 23.54 and a half in 47.47, the five year-old gelded son of Mutadda began to quicken with about a half mile to go. Sweeping past horses while running five wide around the entire far turn, he moved within striking range coming to the quarter pole. His rally never stalled. He continued his terrific rally on the far outside, blew past the leaders just outside the sixteenth pole and then pulled away to win by three widening lengths. Claimed in December for $12,500 by Morris Kernan, Jr. & M-Z Racing Partnership and trained by Marcos Zulueta, he went off as a 16-1 longshot and paid $34.60 win, covering the mile and a sixteenth in 1:46.71.

Newtown Anner Stud’s Chilly in Charge proved much the best in winning the $100,000 Crowd Pleaser Stakes for PA-bred three year-olds. Originally carded for the turf, it was moved to the main track after heavy rains here this week. Ridden by Angel Rodriguez, Chilly in Charge sat just off the two front runners for the first three-quarters of a mile before taking command on the far turn. Opening up a clear lead turning for home, the Take Charge Indy colt left his six rivals far behind, widening his lead through the final quarter mile and rolling home an eye catching twelve lengths in front. Trained by Miguel Vera, he went off as the 4-5 favorite and paid $3.80 to win. He ran the one mile and one-sixteenth over a fast track in 1:47.51.

The $100,000 Power by Far Stakes, a five furlong sprint for PA-bred fillies and mares also came off the turf. Lyno Maraspin’s Wildcat Combat sat a great trip in behind dueling front runners Captain Sam and The Circle Game before angling out for a clear path coming into the stretch. In the middle of the racetrack, the five year-old Messner mare charged to the lead with about a sixteenth to go and then held off the late bid of Afleet Tizzy to win by a length. Ridden by Dexter Haddock and trained by Miguel Penaloza, she went off at 7-1 and paid $17.80 to win. Her final time for the five-eighths was :58.72.