The classical music
concert and the big-time coffee klatch had to be put over
until another day as the event became a Blacktie affair.
That’s another way
of saying that Armbro Blacktie, a 10-1 shot, upset
favorites Armbro Bach and Lil Dude Starrbuck to capture
the $38,700 Mr Vancouver Stake at Fraser Downs last
Friday.
The four-year-old
gelding, a son of Camluck-Armbro Manhattan registered a
new lifetime mark of 1:54.1 in his 2¾-length decision.
In an excellent
field of nine, Blacktie, with Scott Knight in the sulky,
powered through a 56 second last half. They were fifth (5
½ back at the half and second, a half length behind at the
three-quarter pole.
Armbro Bolton, a 7-1
choice, took the lead from the gate but 3-5 favorite
Armbro Bach moved from the two hole to take the lead after
the opening quarter. Bach held on until Blacktie assumed
the lead as they turned for home.
The Armbro B’s
finished 1-2-3 with Starrbuck fourth.
Blacktie was
claimed, in astute move, for $35,000 plus allowances by
the Verve Racing Stables in mid-September at Stampede
Park.
The triumph was the
sixth win of the season in 29 starts for the gelding now
trained by John Currie and improved his career bankroll to
more than $105,000. It also earned back a great deal of
his purchase price.
“It was a steal of a
claim,” admitted Brad Stevenson, head man of Verve Racing
which includes his dad Dave.
“He (Blacktie) just
needed some time off,” Bard explained. “He had four stakes
close together and was sore and tired. We knew if we gave
him some time off he would be OK and we have been taking
it easy with him.”
Verve may be a new
player the Stevensons have been around the racing business
for close to 25 years, albeit with some breaks.
“Our first horse was
Its a Boy and we also have had some good horses including
Leggo My Eggo.”
Brad started Verve
Racing in Calgary (where he resides) and started a
subsidiary in B .C. (out of Victoria where Dave resides).
“We wanted the
appropriate status for stakes races in B.C.”
They got that, and a
win, quickly.
And, Brad promises they have more contenders on the way.
