Vasari and Hayden Barnes annihilate their rivals at Albion Park in 1:52 flat in May. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Vasari opens his account in New York with a 1:52.3 mile at Saratoga - and he jogged it
By Barry Lichter • 7 October 2019
Vasari has made a flying start to his American career with a dominant win at Saratoga in New York.
The former Lincoln Farms pacer, now trained by Paul Zabielski, started second favourite on Saturday and the result was never in doubt, the commentator declaring he jogged the mile as he hit the wire in 1:52.3.
Vasari started from two on the gate and was driven aggressively by driver Jim Devaux to cross the pole runner Delightful Joe after an opening 400 metres in 27.1.
Devaux kept his foot down throughout, clocking the next sectionals in 28.3, 28.1 and 28.3, finishing with something in reserve.
Run for a stake of US$11,000, the race was the first for Vasari’s new Saratoga Springs owner Keith Quinn since he bought him from Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street and partners Ian Middleton, Rod and Sue Fleming and Peter Jeffares in late August.
The six-year-old flew to the States in the form of his life, with three wins and a second in his last four starts at Albion Park.
His 86-start career down under saw him bank A$150,000 from 16 wins, five in New Zealand for Ray Green, and 11 in Australia for first Sonya Smith and Anthony Butt in Sydney then Al Barnes in Queensland.
Barnes predicted on his departure that he would be ideally suited to the go-hard style in America, tactics which saw him clock a 1:52 flat mile at Albion Park in May when winning by more than 17 metres.
You can see the race on the following link - https://saratogacasino.com/race-replays/- just click on Saturday the 5th and then race 4 to view.
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Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
