Former $2,000 claimer wins Grade I DiCaprio
By ITCH
Tazdevil’s EMPIRE CAUSEWAY ($14.80) already was one of the best claims in Sim history.
Now, he’s a Grade I winner.
Purchased for a measly $2,000 by the Universal Racing Club’s Tazdevil in January of 2010, Empire Causeway put the capper on his rags-to-riches story here in Week 4841 in Italy’s Grade I DiCaprio Handicap, a mile turf race.
Breaking sixth behind an expected speed duel, jockey G. Dobbs found a perfect trip for this 5yo brown son of Empire Maker. The horse easily ranged up on the leaders on the turn for home, and had plenty of gas in the tank to hold off Dixie’s WALTZING IN, who closed strongly to be second but was never a threat to the winner. Gowans’ HUMOROUS TAP, the lone 3yo in the race, picked up the pieces of the failing frontrunners to get up for third.
With the victory, Empire Causeway rose to No. 30 in the division and now has nearly $500,000 in career earnings. Not bad for a horse who broke down and ran only a 19 in his first race after being claimed for so cheap. Congratulations to Tazdevil for an amazing training accomplishment!
In keeping with a popular theme, we also have a fresh quote from Leonardo DiCaprio. As an animal rights activist, the actor joined the protest against laws in Ohio which allowed a man in Zanesville to accumulate a large number of exotic animals. The man let them all go before committing suicide last week, leaving local law enforcement the unsavory task of having to shoot most of them to protect the public.
“Sad situation and proof we need better regulation to protect both animals and people NOW,” DiCaprio said.