7th-Ellis, $70,251, Msw, 7-29, 2yo, 6f, 1:11.97, my, 1 3/4 lengths.
MESERO (c, 2, Not This Time–Lemon Liqueur {SP}, by Exchange Rate), a 5-1 shot, was away half a step slowly and raced near the back of the field as favored Snap Call (Volatile) pressed the pace three wide down the backstretch before settling just off the pace on the bend. Mesero began improving his position along the rail as the favorite settled just off the pace in third, but he was still some eight lengths back as the leaders turned for home. Snap Call, who hit the front at the top of the lane, began to dawdle and allowed pace-pressing Trew Violence (Violence) to retake the lead, but it was Mesero making eye-catching progress down the center of the track who flew to the lead in the final strides to graduate by 1 3/4 lengths. Trew Violence had 2 1/2 lengths on Snap Call in third. The victory gave trainer Dale Romans his second straight 2-year-old maiden winner on the Monday card at Ellis Park.
Mesero, a $535,000 KEESEP yearling, is a half-brother to Bleecker Street (Quality Road), GISW, $894,700. Lemon Liqueur produced a colt by Quality Road this year and was bred back to Cody's Wish. Click for the Equibase.com chart. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $41,285.
O-CJ Thoroughbreds & Delia Nash; B-Delia Nash (KY); T-Dale L. Romans.
A slow start out of the gate didn't bother #2 MESERO ($12.58) who comes storming down the center of the track to win on debut in race 7 at Ellis Park. The son of Not This Time was ridden by @coreylanerie and is trained by @Romansracing. pic.twitter.com/WLgSolWbx7
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) July 29, 2024
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