Hansen, Seekman Double Up in Opens
By Mike Paradise
It was one cold Saturday night for racing (20 degrees); however, the Gerald Hansen Stable and driver Travis Seekman didn’t mind. They were red-hot when it counted.
To say that Talky About Valor romped to his fourth Open trot victory last night isn’t an overstatement. The seven-year-old star of the Gerald Hansen Stable showed his heels to his foes in the $13,700 second race co-feature, an event where the outcome wasn’t in doubt after the first quarter.
Talk About Valor and driver Travis Seekman were all by themselves at the finish of last night’s $13,700 co-feature Open Trot. (Four Footed Fotos)
Driver Travis Seekman hustled Talk About Valor out from the assigned outside five slot. The 2021 Illinois Aged Trotter of the Year got command midway through the first turn and proceeded to a dominating five length triumph for Monee, Illinois owner Shirley Steele, the gelding’s 20th win in 84 lifetime starts
The 13-1 longshot Lousraptor (Juan Franco) came on in the lane to be a non-threatening second. Beaten five lengths, last week’s Open trot victory Magic Night was only third best on this night.
Talk About Valor opened a four-length lead at the first quarter (29 flat). The gutsy trotter was a comfortable two and one-half lengths ahead at the half (57.4) and by the three quarters (1:26.2) was five lengths ahead with Seekman enjoying the ride.
Hold All Tickets: The third race filly and mare Open Pace followed, and the outcome was more much suspenseful.
n The Hansen trained, Seekman driver 11-1 longshot My Uptowne Girl made a late dash to finish first, but his supporters had to sweat out a long inquiry by the track stewards before the race was official.
My Uptowne Girl (No. 2) bumped wheels in the early going with Scorecard Dandy, but it was determined it was the No. 1 horse who came out some heading into the first turn.
My Uptown Girl wasn’t in the ballgame through most of the race and was sixth and last coming out of the final turn.
But that was before the eight-year-old Ideal Towne homebred exploded in the outside lane and went on to gain a one and one-half length victory, her fifth of the season in nine tries for the transplanted Oregon, Illinois couple of Bernie and Deb Paul, now residents of, Tylertown, Mississippi.
It’s Time for Fun (Kyle Wilfong) and Seventimesacharm (John De Long) traded the first half leads, reached in 57.4. Rollin Coal (Juan Franco), the eventual second place finisher, came out of fifth and rallied strong in the lane but brought up My Uptown Girl who rallied even stronger with a 28 flat last panel a sub-freezing night.