Patsy Symons’ Gitchee Goomie enjoyed a ground-saving trip to the stretch,
switched outside right before the eighth pole and surged late to capture the
Grade 3, $250,000
Dr. James
Penny Memorial Handicap, the Tuesday feature at Parx Racing. Under Alan
Garcia, the five-year-old mare returned $8.20, $3.20 and $2.40 as the 3-1
co-second choice, and completed 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:41 1/5.
Charging late for second on the outside was 5-2 favorite Hessonite, whom
Gitchee Goomie had beaten last out in the May 27 Mount Vernon at Belmont Park.
Hessonite finished a half-length behind the winner, but had the same margin on
Julie’s Love, who had a length on Safe Crossing. The latter held a comfortable
lead through splits of :24 3/5, :48 3/5 and 1:12 before weakening in the
stretch.
The order of finish was completed by Naples Bay, My Redbyrd, Clare Skies
Ahead, and Pinch Pie. Laughing was scratched.
Gitchee Goomie, who is trained by Rick Violette, has been among the leading
New York-bred turf mares in recent seasons, scoring restricted stakes wins in
the Yaddo at Saratoga and two editions of the Mount Vernon. She’s fared well in
open company as well, placing in two editions of the Grade 3 Beaugay as well as
the Grade 1 Garden City. She was also second, beaten 2 1/4 lengths, by Daveron
in the 2011 renewal of the Penny Memorial. Her record now stands at 19-7-9-1,
$648,020.
A daughter of City Zip, Gitchee Goomie was produced by the stakes-placed
Brief Ruckus mare Riotous Miss. In the distant past, this female family yielded
champion older mare Pucker Up and steeplechase champion Bushranger.
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com