Confederate vaults to victory in Cane Pace

Saturday, August 5, 2023

Confederate and driver Tim Tetrick exploded in the homestretch and blew away 10 rivals to capture the $315,700 Cane Pace, for 3-year-old colts and geldings, in dynamic fashion, equaling the 1:47.3 stakes record in the process on Saturday afternoon (Aug. 5) at the Meadowlands.

Confederate, returning to the scene of his Meadowlands Pace victory for the first time since the July 15 conquest, was a $35,000 supplemental entry to the Cane. Driver Tim Tetrick drove him with superb confidence, sitting back in the early stages as El Ray and driver Scott Zeron motored to the front at the outset and set a :26.3 opening fraction, putting Christchurch into the pocket briefly as Ammo and driver David Miller moved to gain control after the quarter. As soon as Ammo had cleared the front, Yannick Gingras wheeled Christchurch with power to the front well before the :54.1 half-mile marker.

Confederate sat comfortably off the opening half but was on the move shortly thereafter, flushing the cover of Seven Colors and Dexter Dunn and following them intently. Dunn had Seven Colors moving with purpose on the final turn, and he reached even terms with leader Christchurch as the field hit three-quarters in 1:21.2. In the stretch, a game Seven Colors wore down the pacesetter while, to his flank on the outside, Confederate picked up momentum and shifted into an entirely different gear. With Tetrick virtually still in the sulky, Confederate kicked away from the field in an individually-timed :25.4 final quarter. Seven Colors finished second, four lengths behind, with Christchurch holding onto the third spot. Hungry Angel Boy followed the winner on the final turn but couldn’t pace as strongly in the stretch, yet barely held Voukefalas at bay in the battle for fourth.

It was the fifth win in six starts this year for Confederate, a homebred son of Sweet Lou from the A Rocknroll Dance mare Geothermal owned by Diamond Creek Racing. For his career, Confederate has earned $1,131,629.

“That was absolutely a perfect trip for him,” said Brett Pelling, who trains Confederate, who returned $2.40 to win as the overwhelming favorite. “He was just cruising.”

Owner Adam Bowden deflected talk as to whether Confederate might race in the Little Brown Jug this September.

“This guy’s in a league of his own,” said Bowden, whose stable also shares ownership in third-place finisher Christchurch.