Monday, July 23, 2012

MISCOE GRAY WINS THE $50,000 RISE JIM STAKES; PIERMARINI WINS THREE

EAST BOSTON, MA - Miscoe Gray and Jorge Vargas pulled off the front-running upset in the $50,000 Rise Jim Stakes on Saturday, July 21 at Suffolk Downs, completing six furlongs in 1:12 over a field of 11 Massachusetts-bred rivals.

Trained by Tom McCooey, Jr., the Nine Maple Farm homebred son of Cozzene broke well and secured a spot on the rail and led every step of the way, saving enough to hold off Same Day Pleasure.


"I just saw that speed was holding," said Vargas. "I knew I had to take advantage of that and I had the horse to do it."

Miscoe Gray was named New England's champion juvenile in 2010 and this win was his second lifetime score. Miscoe Gray returned $38.40, 15.40 and 10.60. Same Day Pleasure paid $9.20 and 6.80 while Gorgeous Silk returned $8.20.

Leading rider Tammi Piermarini had three winners on the card. She started her triple with a win in the second aboard Bucks Wink ($6.80) for Lloyd Lockhart. She followed that up in the fourth with former New England champion grass mare PJs Lil Toni ($4.40) for Pat Vassallo and captured the tenth race with Cowgirls First ($13.60) for Keith Sargent.

With 2,136 career wins, Piermarini is one away from tying Patti Cooksey for third all-time among female riders. Julie Krone is first with 3,704, followed by Rosemary Homeister (2,524), who is currently riding at Arlington Park.

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