TEXAS TERROR PACES 1:50.3 IN USA
Former Overport Lodge-developed pacer Texas Terror is still a money-maker as an 11-year-old in North America.
The Western Terror-Alicia Maree gelding led throughout at Mohegan Sun Pocono last weekend in a $UIS11,000 pace, winning by three lengths in 1:50.3 (fifths).
Driven by Antony Napolitano for trainer Jose Godinez, Texas Terror was racking up is fifth win of the year for just over $US90,000 in stakes.
He’s also picked up six seconds and three thirds.
Texas Terror, who has a lifetime best mile of 1:50.2 (10ths) has now had 34 career wins from 190 career starts, for earnings for the equivalent of just over $485,000 in stakes.
He only raced one for trainer Mark Jones, being sold after finishing fourth to subsequent NZ Sapling Stakes winner Monaghan in a 1:59 2YO mile at Winton way back in 2010.
Three years ago he was the fastest elimination winner of a $US50,000 George Morton Levy Memorial Series Heat at Yonkers, New York, in 1:51 on the half-mile track that night.
After leaving NZ for Australia, he won 16 in Australia, including winning his his last start there at Menangle on October 31, 2015, in 1:51.8 (mile) in the hands of Luke McCarthy.
Texas Terror is from the same maternal family as former smart Overport Lodge filly/mare Delightful Memphis (1:51.4, also a notable earner in the US this year).
Both have the 1999 NZ Broodmare Excellence Award winner Deborah Dundee as their great grand-dam.
This is the same line that produced former brilliant 2 & 3YO, and now successful sire Courage Under Fire (1:54.1), who despite his death last year, still has chilled semen available from Stallions Australasia at Bromac Lodge this spring.
Another ex-Canterbury pacer to slip under the radar in the USA last weeekend was the former David Gaffaney-trained Micky Gee, a regular drive for Overport Lodge reinswoman Sam Ottley in his former his Addington racing.
Micky Gee ran top USA free-for-aller and $US4 million winner McWicked to a nose in the $US250,000 Dan Rooney Memorial at Yonkers Raceway, New York, last Sunday (NZ time).
The 6YO Bettor’s Delight-Corbell gelding has won $US254,810 from eight wins in 25 starts for the year, racing mostly on the half-mile at Yonkers.
These days a stablemate of former dual Australasian Grand Circuit champ Christen Me in the Lance Hudson stable, Micky Gee has taken a fast 1:50.2 (10ths) on the half-mile circuit there.