<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>The penultimate race on the Equinics Vermont dirt card, an open race for horses 4 and up going a mile and a half on dirt lived up to its billing.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The Belmont<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> like test for older horses certainly was a test of champions. The race benefited the Starlight foundation, a group that sounds like angels of mercy. \u00a0<\/SPAN>It is not too late to follow the link and make a donation. This was an incredible race and every horse in it ran its heart out. Lets take a peak at how they performed.<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>How They Ran-<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>GRSimsters- PINE SPIRIT Tr Topicount4<\/I><\/SPAN><\/U><\/B><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>The 4 year old son of Arch x\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Seeking the Gold x\u00a0 <\/SPAN>AP Indy had the weight of the world on his shoulders. Career earnings well over a million dollars and a multiple Grade 1 winner, hoping to help the defending Equinics champ back to the podium.. He entered the race as a horse that has run all his best races in all his biggest spots. Saturday he ran huge again, not quite all the way back to his Smackdown day score but not far off of it either. He missed a length and this race was so tight that one length meant missing a medal. The only thing that blunted his tremendous move was some real gutty horses in front of him.<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>Del Penn- RAMA Tr Super 11<\/o:p><\/I><\/SPAN><\/U><\/B><\/P>\u00a0<\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/U><\/I><\/B><\/P>The 4 year old son of Kingmambo x\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Pleasant Colony x Nijinsky II entered of a 114 at 13f. \u00a0<\/SPAN>Unfortunately for Rama that monster effort may have taken more out of him than expected. He broke a little slowly, woke up and found himself with a lot to do. Ran evenly and that has positive portent for the future.<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>Benelux<\/SPAN><\/U><\/B><\/st1:place>– THE FIGUREHEAD Tr Kristoff<\/o:p><\/I><\/SPAN><\/U><\/B><\/P>\u00a0<\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/U><\/I><\/B><\/P>The 4 year old son of Elusive Quality x Saint Ballado x Graustark entered the race with the talent to upset the applecart if he doesn\u2019t get lost in the back early. Unfortunately that is just what happened in this huge field. He found his best stride too late.<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>Great Plains- SHALLOW WATER Tr. Aces1211<\/o:p><\/I><\/SPAN><\/U><\/B><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>My choice, the 4 year old son of Daylami x The Minstrel x Sir Ivor had won stakes at 3 different distances and a 10f G1 in his last outing. He got a trip he and did have the folks at Great Plains<\/st1:place> on their feet and screaming at the end. Despite a monster close he missed out on a medal by fractions. Really could not have asked more from horse or rider, yet you wish they started the charge a few bounces sooner.<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>EAAA Racing- SANDBANK Tr Shamran2<\/o:p><\/I><\/SPAN><\/U><\/B><\/P>\u00a0<\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/U><\/I><\/B><\/P>The 4 year old son of Sakhee x Kris S. x Val D\u2019Lorne needed to channel a little Nick Zito to get it done here. At least that was the tout. For a long time the bronze medal trainer looked to have done just that. When he took the lead at the third call, glory looked highly likely and a tremendously game finish got him a trip to the podium. Great job by the connections getting this one ready and to a jockey who let him relax and nearly shock the world. <\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>Northwest Racing Circuit- ELUSIVE SAINT Tr Camry<\/o:p><\/I><\/SPAN><\/U><\/B><\/P>\u00a0<\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/U><\/I><\/B><\/P>The 5 year old son of Elusive Quality x Strike The Gold x Saint Ballado wanted to get loose on the lead, so NWRC could have a new hero. Instead he stumbled out the gate got caught in traffic and still ran big. Gutty effort running a bit out of position. <\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>Alpine Racing Association- HOPE FOR THE ARK<\/st1:State><\/st1:place> Tr. Antagonist<\/o:p><\/I><\/SPAN><\/U><\/B><\/P>\u00a0<\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/U><\/I><\/B><\/P>The 4 year old son of Pine Bluff x Blushing Groom x Roberto came in off a 14f stakes back in March and in need of everything falling his way. He broke alertly and made the lead and was flying on the front end. The pace was too hot and eventually he faded. A strong run.<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>Vermont-<\/SPAN><\/U><\/B><\/st1:State><\/st1:place> DWELL ON IT Tr. Flagdown2<\/I> <\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/U><\/B><\/P>\u00a0<\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/U><\/B><\/P>The 5 year old son of Contemplate x Kayf Tara x Shareef Dancer was beaten 35.5 lengths in his last and appeared not to be at the top of his game. It was a tough spot and he gave it his all. Today was not his day.<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/U><\/I><\/B><\/P>Blazing Saddles SATISFACTION Tr Coltsblue<\/o:p><\/I><\/SPAN><\/U><\/B><\/P>\u00a0<\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/U><\/I><\/B><\/P>The 5 year old son of Birdstone x Scatter the Gold x AP Indy maybe better at 16f where he won a stakes race in the prep for this one. Left himself too much to do with horses this good but still made a charge and finished a respectable mid pack.<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>Ireland-<\/SPAN><\/U><\/B><\/st1:country-region><\/st1:place> BAD SIN Tr Borden<\/o:p><\/I><\/SPAN><\/U><\/B><\/P>\u00a0<\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/U><\/I><\/B><\/P>The 4 year old son of Sindar x Final Straw x Guilty Conscience had a lot of support in the chat room at race time. \u00a0<\/SPAN>Would he get \u00a0<\/SPAN>the garden trip and swoop in for a piece late?\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He also was bottomed out by the hot early pace and fell too far back to close into horses of this level. Also gaining ground late and nothing to hand his head over. <\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>