Saturday’s (August 9) Grade 2 $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial at MGM Northfield Park will feature competitors from all over North America. But for one of the horses racing, they’d love to make it a ‘first’ for their state.
Hailing from “The First State” known as Delaware, Primo (meaning first) Maschio has pointed to the Milstein since winning the $110,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund Final at Harrington on July 17.
“We were hoping we were hoping to get an invitation after his win at Harrington. He did it so easily and we are excited to be part of the race on Saturday,” said trainer Kevin Lare.
Owner Forrest Barlett, who owned 1986 Horse of the Year Forrest Skipper, purchased Primo Maschio after he and Lare watched him in a mini-series at Ocean Downs. Once they found out he was Delaware eligible, the connections were very interested.
“He raced very well at Ocean Downs and we were impressed with what we saw. We reached out to Michael Hall who had him at the time and Forrest purchased him,” said Lare.
The purchase has taken his connections on a ride they won’t soon forget. In his first start in the new barn, Primo Maschio romped to a 13-3/4 length victory against Maryland-sired horses at Ocean Downs. Following another powerful win against the conditioned company at Harrington, it was time to see what exactly they had from their talented gelding.
After winning the elimination for the Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund eliminations, he cruised to a 2-1/2 length win in the $110,000 Final. The connections gave their prized gelding a month off before the next round of Breeders’ Fund races and after just missing two weeks in a row, the son of Badlands Hanover turned it on in the Final winning by four lengths in 1:53 4/5.
Coming back as a 3-year-old, Primo Maschio continued to mature, reeling off three straight victories before shipping to Plainridge for a try against Grand Circuit company in the $100,000 Paul Revere Stakes.
Luck was not on Primo Maschio’s side that afternoon.
Leaving the gate, he grabbed a shoe and almost made a break. Driver Walter Case Jr. helped the gelding compose himself but he couldn’t find position on the rail, so Case drove on with Primo Maschio before a testing 26 2/5 first quarter.
Coming to the half, Primo was passed by rivals and entering the backstretch got mired in traffic trouble.
“Had he not grabbed a shoe at the start, I think we would have had a different outcome at Plainridge,” Lare said. “He raced very good up there. Considering all of the circumstances we were happy with his effort.”
Primo Maschio got some time off and returned to his winning ways in the first two DSBF eliminations, and after winning the Open Handicap at Ocean Downs in a lifetime best 1:51 3/5, it was on to the $110,000 Final at Harrington.
Again, he proved to easily be the best in the field. After taking the lead, he took no prisoners setting quick fractions and cruising to a 2-1/4 length victory in 1:53 1/5.
Entering Saturday’s Carl Milstein Memorial, the connections of Primo Maschio are glad to have a little luck on their side as they compete against Grand Circuit company again.
“Having drawn the rail, I think that gives us a huge advantage. We just need a little racing luck to be on our side.”
If the talented gelding crosses the line first on Saturday, Lare will not only be excited for all of the connections, but for The First State as well.
“Winning the Milstein would be a great feather in Primo Maschio’s cap, but not just for him, it would say a lot about Delaware-bred horses being able to compete at the top level.”
-edited release (By Michael Carter for MGM Northfield Park)