Unbeaten colt Stay Hungry on nice roll
It’s been an impressive harness-racing debut for Stay Hungry.
The colt is unbeaten in his first three starts, posting a career-best time of 1:50.2 — also a new season’s mark for a two-year-old pacer — to win his elimination event last weekend for the $816,000 Metro Pace.
A $150,000 yearling purchase, Stay Hungry has already earned more than $74,000 and is the horse to watch as the early 3-1 favourite in harness racing’s richest event for two-year-olds Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack.
“He has progressed so well since we started,” said trainer Tony Alagna. “We felt like he was sitting on a really big effort and he didn’t disappoint that’s for sure.
“I think we’re in good shape.”
Driver Doug McNair of Guelph, Ont., believes Stay Hungry, a son of ’07 Pace champion Somebeachsomewhere, is capable of pacing faster.
“He’s only had the three starts and keeps dropping two seconds a start,” McNair said. “He’s coming into the race as good as any in there.”
Also on Saturday’s card is the $500,000 Shes A Great Lady for twoyear-old pacing fillies. Percy Bluechip, driven by Trevor Henry of Arthur, Ont., is the early 2-1favourite in the eight-horse field.
Alagna, who won the 2013 Metro Pace with Captaintreacherous, will have two horses in Saturday night’s marquee event: Stay Hungry and Odds On Lauderdale. He sent out the two together Wednesday at Mohawk to train and said Stay Hungry looked good.
“He trained super,” Alagna said. “He was very sharp. All signs look good going forward.”
Stay Hungry will go from the No. 2 post Saturday night, a position McNair said gives horse and driver plenty of options.
“You can go to the front if you want, or stay off the pace,” McNair said. “The thing is, he’s a very versatile horse.”