Spotlight Grudge Race Recap
On Saturday, the Spotlight race drew a focus on a race that was a grudge match between co-BTB writer Emmyrhys and myself. Back in February, Emmy’s horse Actually hit a speed over 100 and was the first horse that she owned to hit a speed in those upper limits and finished third in the race. Ironically, I also had a horse in the race that won and scored it’s first speed over 100.
So, after much discussion, we agreed to have these two fight it out once again, in Michigan, the fifteenth race on the card, an allowance race at distance of 9 furlongs. Both of us had high expectations of our horses and is turned out, one would be rewarded, the other sent back to the drawing board.
The horses bolted out of the gate and it quickly became clear that Emmy was out for blood as Actually was sent to the front. Firebombed took up the second position with Vaguely Irish running alongside betting favorite Star Ogler. I Don’t Sahkee was next in line with Red Lemon Cat, Soviet Ballet and my own horse Midnight Giallo taking the rear position.
The gang of horses held their positions as the reached the halfway marker and it became apparent that my horse Midnight Giallo was in trouble as he was a good dozen strides behind Emmy’s Actually who looked awfully good to wire the field.
Coming to the head of the stretch, Actually was still on top with a narrowing lead as Firebombed had his eyes set on the leader. Star Ogler was still mixing things up with Vaguely Irish with the rest of the field a bit further back. Midnight Giallo had a lock on last place as he was half a football field behind, so it would feel.
Actually dug in deep but lost the lead as Firebombed rallied down the stretch and took the win by 2 ½ lengths and a speed of 98. Actually held on to finish second beating out Star Ogler by a neck and a nice 95 speed.
Vaguely Irish was a half stride back, taking the fourth position. I Don’t Sahkee ran flat, finishing fifth, just ahead of Soviet Ballet. Steep longshot Red Lemon Cat came in seventh and finishing 38 lengths behind and walking through the finish line with a speed of 54 was Midnight Giallo.
Midnight Giallo was immediately hauled to the veterinarian immediately after the race. The vet has diagnosed the problem as “extreme failure to follow your own horoscope syndrome”. Looking back at this Aquarius horse, I should have sent him to track #1, California. Anyways, he came out of the race in “Layoff” status. Such a harsh penalty to incur.
Congrats to Emmyrhys who had the better horse by far in this race. Perhaps when my horse feels better we can duel it out again.
To wrap things up, in my preview of the race, I went with Firebombed to win this race and he paid $12.60 for the win. Actually got the second spot, connecting for a $47.50 exacta. My third pick, Star Ogler got third and signed off on a trifecta that paid $121.90. My second pick was Vaguely Irish and he just missed the top three spots.