Skyway Goliath didn’t have the best trip, but he had a winning one, scoring his second straight victory Monday, May 22 at Oak Grove Racing. The sophomore Indiana sired colt was driven to victory by Randy Crisler.
Skyway Goliath and Randy Crisler rally home to their second straight win at Oak Grove Monday, May 22.
Starting from the inside post position, Skyway Goliath had the best shot of leading the race early and had those intentions, but so did a few others in the race. Racing Party and Clay Simpson were widest of all with Westwind Ideal and Matt Krueger in between as the trio of horses passed by the quarter in :27.4. Racing Party cleared to the front, leaving Skyway Goliath in second to the half in :57.1. When the field was approaching the three-quarters, Skyway Goliath moved out to make a move. He clipped the wheel of Racing Party and took a bad step, going off stride for a couple of steps and Crisler moved him to the outside. He caught back on and got back in the race, but found himself three-wide around the final turn.
In the stretch, Skyway Goliath began rallying home with authority, taking over midway through the lane and scoring the win in 1:54.4, a new lifetime mark. Racing Party finished two and one-quarter lengths back in second followed by Keep My Secret and Tony Hall for third.
There was a judge’s inquiry into the incident where Skyway Goliath struck the wheel of Racing Party, but it was determined there was no interference to warrant a placing. The wheel of Racing Party’s bike was not damaged.
Skyway Goliath paid $8.36 for the win. The JK Endofanera son is owned by Earnest Sork, a retired farmer from Fairfield, Ill. along with Nori and Shawn Nessa. Shawn trains the colt, who was bred by Leon Slabach.
Skyway Goliath was unraced at two. He began his racing career with one qualifier at Oak Grove. His second straight trip to the winner’s circle was his fifth career outing. He was a $5,000 yearling purchase from the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale for the Nessa Stable, which is based out of the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in southern Illinois.
Skyway Goliath is the latest foal from the Western Ideal mare Gymnast Hanover, who made nearly $100,000 during her racing career. Her only other foal is a full brother to Skyway Goliath named Skyway Gymmaster, who is also currently racing with a mark of 1:53.3 and $29,000 on his card.