When the $1.50 favourite Classic Choice galloped at the start from the No. 2 barrier in the Garrard’s Horse And Hound Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night talented driver Maddison Brown seized the initiative by urging $14.40 chance Back In Twenty to the front from barrier three.
Back In Twenty, trained by Justin Prentice, relished the pacemaking role and romped top a three-length victory over Our Surrogate ($9.50), with Whoswhointhezoo ($14) another two lengths away in third place.
“He is a hard horse to get over when he’s in front,” said Prentice. “He can run good sectionals and make it hard for anything in the field. His last three starts have been really good, and his fourth behind Hampton Banner at his previous start was close to his career best, the way he sprinted home which hasn’t always been his caper.”
Back In Twenty, bred and owned by Bob Fowler’s Allwood Stud Farm, has now earned $90,190 from ten wins and 13 placings from 55 starts. By Sportswriter, Back In Twenty is out of the Northern Luck mare Aristocratic Glow, who had 44 starts for nine wins, 13 placings and $74,756.
Aristocratic Star is a half-sister to former star mare Amongst Royalty, who amassed $570,820 from her 23 wins and 27 placings from 86 starts. He is also closely related to former star pacer Mon Poppy Day, who had 50 starts for 20 wins, 16 placings and $318,558.
by Ken Casellas