ALLRED SWEEPS TOP THREE SPOTS IN SCANE MEMORIAL
Ed Allred entered a trio of homebred fillies in the inaugural running of the $25,000 Fred Scane Memorial Handicap. For Allred, who had a great personal and working relationship with Scane, winning the race named after his great friend and stallion syndicate manager would have been a special and sentimental stakes victory.
Allred’s fillies provided more than the win, as they swept the top three spots in an exciting first running of this race for 2-year-old fillies at 350 yards. First across the wire for the filly was the Scott Willoughby-trainee Hitters Count, who secured her third victory in as many starts after outdueling Call It Close by a nose. She Goes Up, who was a nice third in her Ed Burke Million Futurity trial in her last outing, ran gamely once again to wrap up the trifecta for Allred.
It was a home run performance for Hitters Count, as she broke sharply from post number one and was relentless to the wire to hold off the late flying Call It Close. Ridden by Victor Salazar, Hitters Count covered the distance in :18.014 at odds of 4-1. The Kiddy Up filly out of the A Regal Choice mare What A Hit has shown tremendous fighting spirit in her three starts. In her previous win she regained her composure after bumping at the start to win by a head. In her maiden effort, she pulled away late after dueling out of the gate against a quality group. Hitters Count earned $13,750 for the win to more than double her career earnings to $25,655.
Trained by Cesar De Alba, Call It Close earned $5,625 for her strong effort at 9-1 odds. She came into this race after a pair of wins. She Goes Up, also from the Willoughby stable, added $3,125 to her total earnings.
As stallion manager for Allred’s Rolling A Ranch, Fred Scane worked with some of the most prominent stallions in California. He managed Walk Thru Fire, Separatist, TR Dasher, Snowbound, Stel Corona, and the champion sire Kiddy Up. He was also an ever-present figure at most of the major Quarter Horse sale auctions.
“He was nationally known and had so many great contacts in the industry to build stallion syndications,” Allred said. “For a while, he had a large breeding operation that produced a lot of great horses. He was a great friend and a respected horseman.”
Scane also bred champions Griswold, still regarded as one of the greatest 870-yard horses of all time, Solvency and Apprehend. Scane passed away in February of 2020.
La Blue Amore, who came into this race after an appearance in the Grade 2 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity, was fourth. She was followed across the wire by Race Thru The Fire, A Painted Legacy, Val Frida, and Blues Girls Favorite completed the field.
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