Hearts were stopping in the simulcast world when Christen Me N was bet down to 3-5 only to jump off briefly before the start in his North American debut at Harrah's Philadelphia Sunday afternoon. While he got back on stride quickly, it appeared he was rough gaited when a recall was called. When he returned to the paddock, a quick equipment change was made.
Meanwhile, once the hearts started again, bettors had to make a decision as to whether or not to hold on to their wagers or cancel them to pass on the race or switch allegiances. What to do?
Well, a good number decided to cancel their tickets, which for those who decided to hold pat was good as Christen Me N rose from 3-5 to 2-1. His supporters were rewarded, though it was not the romp some may have been expecting.
When the starting gate opened, Christen Me was brought into the race conservatively, being off the gate when it opened. By the time the field hit the quarter in :26.2, Tim Tetrick was able to get the 9 year old gelding into fifth along the wood after which Tetrick decided to move out half way through the second panel to get into fourth by the time they hit the second station.in :55,4
It was the overland route indeed as the New Zealand was waiting for cover to develop which didn't happen until the field past the third station in 1:22.2. Following Poisonous, Christen Me waited till the top of the stretch (a length behind the leader Always at My Place) to go four wide to come home the fastest of all to win by a head in a 1:51 mile with Poisonous winning a tight photo to finish second while Scott Rocks took show honors.
He is indeed a good one but it helped he was racing in non-winners of $21,000 in the last 5 starts class and not in top company, for I believe he would have gone down to defeat. Of course,after that rough beginning, Tim Tetrick raced him conservatively. /Once the Jo Ann Looney-King and Jim King are able to diagnose the cause of the rough start and Tetrick is able to race Christen Me all out, it will be interesting to see how good he really will be here in North America.
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