Major Wiener Lights Up the Board in Pattison

By Nynl Stables on October 17, 2017

Pattison Canadian Invitational (Grade 1)- $800.000 Purse
WO- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Half on the Turf
October 15, 2017

The rains came, and with it the track at WO was left sloppy and soft for the day’s racing. For the Pattison, that created a whole new storyline and a new reason for trainers to believe they had a chance to beat Techfluence, who is still the horse to beat in the BC Turf. Techfluence had still been good on off tracks, so there was good reason to make him a strong favorite in this field. Exactly As Planned seemed like he’d be a good shot to defend his crown. Spotted Cat, in his hey day was a great off track horse as well, so maybe this could give his career the needed jolt. There were a few in the field who had never raced on an off track before, and one of them was 48/1 longshot Major Wiener. We didn’t pick him, but I did label him as an intriguing wild card for the race that would be more appealing with a better post. He’s not a total surprise, and should not have been so much of a longshot. The proud winning trainer is Night Rider Stables, who wins this race virtually for the first time. Aboard the winner, naturally, was R Maragh, who wins this race for the first time as well! The time of the win was 2:32.15. Let’s take a look!

(½ Mile- :49.48)- Spring Stormtrooer could not have been any more excited to get started, as he shot out of the gate for Stald Gullis. He was therefore able to move to the rail nearly immediately as no one else was chasing him as aggressively. Looking good also, but still about a length back in the early going was Valar Morghulis, running second for a while. Stalking them were the post-time favorite Techfluence, from The Sidley Stud, and Team 7 Illusions’ Range Of The Sun. The latter would advance to second at the top of the backstretch. Keeping these three in sight would be Valiant Charge, from Threshold, but his distance to the leader was a little under five lengths. After Valiant Charge, we go back two and a half lengths to find our pack. Running four wide for 6th, from inside to outside were Crafty Shenanigans (Mb Stables), Striped Maple (Mb Stables), Max Million (Maxmillion Farm), and Bring The Pain (Mb Stables). Behind them by a length were Level Charge (Wolfs Den), T S Crystal (Triple K), and Spotted Cat (Chili King Stables). Nearby on the rail was last year’s winner, Exactly As Planned (Maxmillion Farm). Trailing, and having to go five wide around the first turn would be Major Wiener, from Night Rider Stables. That extra ground covered makes his performance even more impressive.

(3/4 Mile- 1:14.45)- As the field runs down the backstretch, there is really nothing new to report. Everyone is maintaining their position, with no notable moves forward by anyone in the field. Spring Stormtrooper maintains his lead of three lengths, as they are three wide behind him for second place. Techfluence seemed fine at this point, and on any other day, you could say he had them right where he wanted them. In the back of the field, Major Wiener still was five wide. He had 11 lengths to make up on the leader, but less then four to make up on the fifth place Max Million.

(Top Of Stretch- 2.5F To Go)- As the field hit the top of the turn, Major Wiener made his intentions known and pounced. He was the first to make a noteworthy move, and was much the best as he moved around the turn while four wide. He passed several in the back pretty quickly, and as they hit the top of the stretch, he had less then five lengths to make up and the chore suddenly seemed very doable. Spring Stormtrooper was still in front, and Techfluence cleared those he had been running with and prepared to make his move for the lead. In second now, he less then a length behind, and many would have thought he was ready to give the field the slip. Valiant Charge had gained some ground, and the trainer had to like his position on the track here for the stretch as opposed to the Northern Dancer last month. Range Of The Sun had dropped to fourth, while Crafty Shenanigans began to move forward. Unfortunately for the trainer, he let Major Wiener get alongside him, just about, before he began this move. Max Million and Exactly As Planned were running together towards the back. Exactly As Planned had been moving forward too, but not nearly at the rate as Major Wiener. He seemed to be a good candidate for advancement here. Valar Morghulis was poor in the turn and dropped considerably. T S Crystal and Striped Maple weren’t showing much. Spotted Cat looked like he wanted to run by caught behind the fading Level Charge. Bring The Pain lacked any response.

(Finish- 2:32.15)– In the stretch, Major Wiener was full of run, and it didn’t matter that he was four wide. With R Maragh aboard, he was in a full stride, and was not bothered by the other challengers in the field as he passes them all to get the win! Crafty Shenanigans was also very good in the stretch, but he could not capitalize on the advantage he had on Major Wiener early on, and waited until the winner was along side him before he hit his best stride as well. Valiant Charge looked much better then he did last month, and gamely ran to the wire in a performance the trainer should be proud of. Getting fourth would be Exactly As Planned, who did his best running in the final furlong to pass a few for purposes of getting this check, but never looked like he would crack the top three. Techfluence was empty in the final furlong, and disappointingly dropped to fifth. Spotted Cat advanced late to get up for sixth, nipping the frontrunning Spring Stormtrooper for that spot. That’s where I’d draw the line between those who ran well today (although Techfluence fans will disagree), and those who did not. Next up was Max Million, who at the top of the stretch looked like he had a run in him, but it never materialized. Range Of The Sun had nothing for the stretch, and T S Crystal was flat. Striped Maple and Bring The Pain in the back showed nothing. Level Charge had an awful race.

About The Winner: Major Wiener, trained by Night Rider Stables and ridden by R Maragh, is a three year gelding by Major Thom and out of Drew P Wiener. He was bred in Arizona by Court Jester Racing, and was acquired by Night Rider Stables in a $20.000 claimer in what was the horse’s first race. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fourth in fifteen starts, and his second consecutive win. It’s his first graded stake win.

Horse Name

Owner Name

Jockey

Odds

Fin

Time

SRF

Major Wiener

Night Rider Stables

Maragh R

48.50

1¹