Sneak a Cold Treat and trainer Jamie Ness have been a winning combination since Ness claimed the five-year-old for Illinois-based Midwest Thoroughbreds last year, adding a victory in Friday's $50,000 Honey Jay Stakes at Thistledown.
Sneak a Cold Treat and trainer Jamie Ness have been a winning combination since Ness claimed the five-year-old for Illinois-based Midwest Thoroughbreds last year, adding a victory in Friday's $50,000 Honey Jay Stakes at Thistledown in record time for six furlongs.
While the fans favored Tri Uimet, Ohio's top sprinter in 2009, Sneak a Cold Treat carried jockey Yamil Rosario to his first Thistledown stakes victory as the 5-1 choice. The son of Snuck In discouraged 9-5 favorite Tri Uimet from taking away the early lead with a 22 1/5-second opening quarter-mile, and opened a 5 1/2-length lead at the wire in 1:09 2/5.
That clocking is now the standard for the Honey Jay Stakes, topping a 1:09 3/5 win by I Cant Refuse in 2005. The track record for six furlongs is 1:08 2/5, set in 1987.
Sneak a Cold Treat paid $13, 5.60 and 3.80. Tri Uimet finished second, $3, 2.10, with That's a Heckofacat ($2.80) third, another 2 1/4 lengths back.
Sneak a Cold Treat likes the Thistledown oval. He has 10 victories in 33 career starts and $184,546 in earnings. At Thistledown, Sneak a Cold Treat has won eight of 18 races and $155,000.
In an understatement, Ness said in the winner's circle that Sneak a Cold Treat has been a pretty good claim, a $12,500 purchase at Tampa Bay Downs in 2009. All the dark bay gelding has done since becoming a member of Ness's stable is to win six of 12 starts and last fall's $100,000 Best of Ohio Endurance here.
A sentimental pick for many at 5-2, the nine-year-old Catlaunch made an early move but couldn't rally late. He finished fifth, 10 lengths off the leader.
Ness said he has the enviable decision of running Sneak a Cold Treat in either the Best of Ohio's endurance or sprint this fall.