Red October makes triumphant return to Vesey Street
Red October put down a marker after producing the fastest time during the harness racing season opener at Bermuda Equestrian Centre on Friday night.
Simsfield Stables’ five-year-old gelding stopped the clock at 1.05/3 during the night’s opening heat in the Free for All division with driver Kirista Rabain in the bike to claim early season bragging rights at the Vesey Street racetrack.
“I ended up with the fastest time of the night which was pretty impressive. It’s not a crazy fast time, but I wasn’t even expecting that and we left there pretty surprised to be honest,” owner/trainer Aaron Sims told The Royal Gazette.
Red October won the opening heat to make a triumphant return to the sport from a leg injury that curtailed the horse’s season during the previous campaign.
“He had an injury in the beginning of the year so I didn’t race him any more and treated it over the summer,” Sims said. “He’s now back in action, training good and hopefully it’s all fixed.”
Sims is also inspired by the performance of his four-year-old gelding, Gold Rush, that competed in the same division with Rabain at the helm.
“Gold Rush ended last season in a 1.02/3 as a three-year-old and made it to Free for All, so this year is pretty promising to see what he will do,” he said.
“It’s a good start to the season and we’ll season how the season goes. Obviously it’s nowhere near the time to push them or turn them loose, it’s let them get fit on the job if that makes sense.”
The night’s three fastest times were all recorded in the night’s opening heat. Belhaven Stables’ Smart Machine (1.05/4) produced the second fastest with owner/driver Candyce Martins and fellow gelding Rockeyed Optimist (1.06/2) with owner/driver Maurice Raynor at the helm.
Inwood’s Realist (Belhaven Stables) and Holy Grail (McKeisha Smith) came away with one win each in the two Junior Free for All heats, with drivers DJ Burchall and Jashaun Young respectively.
Martins, the Driving Horse and Pony Club president, and Burchall were the only drivers achieving multiple victories on the night.
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