Country Day in the conversation for the Bonapaw Stakes at Fair Grounds
Steve Margolis trained 5-year-old horse, Country Day, will return to races after competing in the Breeders’ Cup in the $75,000 Bonapaw Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course on 17 December, 2011, at about five and a half furlongs on turf. The race has reeled
in 9, 3-year-olds and above sprinters to show their mettle over Fair Grounds’ turf course.
The Kentucky bred son of Speightstown, out of mare Hidden Assets by Mt. Livermore, Country Day is exiting a second place finish in the Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at about 5 furlongs at Churchill Downs on 5 November, 2011.
Regally Ready won the race and defeated Country Day in second and Perfect Officer in third, while the winner completed the five furlong sprint in 56.48 seconds. Country Day was ridden by J Graham.
“We brought him down here and our plan was to run, and he was going to tell us if he was knocked out or anything from the Breeders’ Cup, but he’s come into this race in good shape,” said trainer Steve Margolis.
Country Day has gone on to win 6 races out of 17 career starts, and being a turf horse he has managed to win just one on grass out of seven races, but in 2011 his radar has been off the mark as he failed to win in four starts.
However, he has turned in some good performances to keep him in contention for the Bonapaw Stakes. Prior to the Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, Country Day finished third in the Grade 3 Woodford Stakes at Keeneland to winner Havelock.
The five and a half furlong dash was held on 8 October, 2011, over Keeneland’s turf course and Havelock ripped through the caste to post a magnificent win with the winning time of 1 minute and 1.96 seconds.
Country Day kicked off the season with a second place finish in the Arlington Sprint Handicap at Arlington Park on 16 July, 2011, at about five and a half furlongs to winner Havlock yet again, who kept Country Day at bay and in the process downed the distance
in 1 minute and 2.71 seconds.
Tags: