Pair of Virginia-Breds Score Mild Upset Wins at Penn National Last Week

True Cost and Simmstown, a pair of Virginia-breds, won sprint races at Penn National last week on back-to-back nights.

 

True Cost, bred by Anne Tucker, wins her third straight race December 3rd at Penn National.

True Cost, bred by Anne Tucker, wins her third straight race December 3rd at Penn National.

True Cost, a 5 year old Aisle mare bred by Anne Tucker, scored a 4 1/2 length gate to wire victory over six others in a 5 1/2 furlong, $29,000 allowance on December 2nd. Trained by Flint Stites for owner John Tucker, the winner crossed in 1:05.98 over a sloppy track and paid $13.00 to win. It was his third straight win and fourth in five starts, all of which have been at Penn National. Out of the Is It True mare, Truly Elegant, the durable True Cost has made 15 starts this year and has 11 “in-the-money” finishes.

Simmstown, bred by the Audley Farms, Inc., came from behind to win a $19,000 claiming race December 2nd at Penn National

Simmstown, bred by the Audley Farms, Inc., came from behind to win a $19,000 claiming race December 2nd at Penn National

Simmstown, a 7 year old Limehouse gelding bred by the Audley Farm, Inc., came outside from third in the final furlong, passed two frontrunners and crossed 1 3/4 lengths ahead of VaBanque in his 6 furlong, $19,000 claiming race December 3rd. Racing in a field of seven, the winner crossed in 1:12.18 and paid $12.80 to his backers. He is trained by Mark Salvaggio and was guided to victory by jockey Andrew Wolfsont. Out of the Cape Town mare, Ruler’s Charm, Simmstown began his career with a win at Colonial Downs in the Jamestown Stakes in 2010 and followed that with a third in the 2011 Brookemeade Stakes, also at New Kent. In summer/fall 2013, Simmstown collected three wins in four outings at Gulfstream and Calder.

Photos courtesy of B & D Photography.