Shaker Rei Zooming By

Posted 186 days

SHAKER REI ZOOMING BY

                Owner-trainer-driver John Gazzerro added the five- year old mare Shaker Rei to his stable late in the summer and hoped she would fit into the conditions that Rosecroft Raceway would have during the Fall 2012 meet.

                The mare showed immediate improvement for Gazzerro in a bottom level conditioned race on September 18 when she charged up first over and continued to advance to the wire when second. In her next start she moved up in class, faced the boys and got shuffled completely out of the race but passed a couple late.

                On October second Shaker Rei drew the rail and alertly left, grabbing the two hole and was along in time for the lifetime mark setting score in 1:56.3, once again facing males. Gazzerro then dropped her in a higher class but one restricted to the ladies. Shaker Rei faced the classy GE’s Alex in this one but once again unleashed a furious rally to score while equaling her lifetime mark.

                The following week Rosecroft was able to card a Winner’s Over for the ladies. Shaker Rei sat patiently and closed solidly to just miss against the absolutely white-hot Rocket Rosy who was winning her fifth in a row. The next week Shaker Rei tried if first over against a well rated Rocket Rosy and was closing late but unable to reach Rocket Rosy, who scored win six in a row.

                This week Rocket Rosy shipped to Harrah’s Philly and the Filly and Mares Winners Over didn’t fill. Gazzerro decided try racing against the boys again, but the move didn’t appear to be working when she drew the seven post.

                As the Dr Lon and Frank Milby were hard used to make the lead and under hounding pressure (27.1; 56.2; & 1:25.2) the entire mile, Shaker Rei sat patiently last, eleven lengths back at the quarter, almost nine back at the half and began to reel in the field as it hit the final turn, Shaker Rei then angled four wide and unleashed a lethal final eighth to gun down the entire field despite having to mildly alter course in the stretch,

                After the win in a lifetime mark setting 1:54.4, Gazzerro remarked, “I’m the oldest driver competing here tonight and it’s nice to have a horse like this so that I can be competitive.” Gazzerro even managed to pose in the final strides as he and Shaker Rei had circled the solid field.

                In other Rosecroft results, drivers Justin Vincent and Frank Milby, of course, had driving triples, while Mark Gray had a driving double.