Equinics Garrison Savannah (turf) Mile
Coming into Saturday’s opening Equinic Race at Berkshire, the $1 Million Grade-1 Garrison Savannah Turf Mile, the best horse was obvious, Ladofmanor’s colt Middle Name Danger was rated # 2 in the 3 year old Colt Turf Classic ratings. Winner of 2 straight, the Grade-1 Jean Brat and the Grade-2 St. James Tavern, and recording speed ratings of 113 and 110 in the process. When viewed against Middle Name Danger’s performances the rest of the field’s credentials paled by comparison. After Saturday’s Garrison Savannah the best horse was again obvious, after stalking the leaders during the first half of the race, Testbarn09’s classy colt Moldy TB collared Bristolred’s game, but tiring colt Bristol Baron and left little doubt, that he was the best 3 year old colt this day. Recording a scintillating 114 speed figure, the victory leaves Moldy TB with a fabulous record of 8 wins and 6 placings out of 15 turf starts and definitely stamps him as one of the Top 5 in the 3 year old Colt Classic Turf Division.
It was as if trainer Bristolred wrote the script for the first half of the Garrison Savannah, his colt Bristol Barron, employing the strategy laid out by Bristolred, grabbed an easy, comfortable lead at the 2 furlong pole and was able to rate him and record a moderate 24:02 first quarter. Bunched 1 length behind the leader was Wreckagee’s Cyrus De Virus, Super26’s Snatch Away and Abe’s Too Many Shots, but none of them seemed keen on challenging Bristol Barron’s lead. Stalking them another length back was Testbarn09’s Moldy TB and Scorgon3s’ Looks Like Gold, with Bentacon’s Blameitontheboogie at their heels, patiently biding their time. Another 4 lengths back, near the rear in 13th thru 15th position, the favorite Ladofmanor’s Middle Name Danger, Munnin240’s Hyperstorm, and Lukester01’s Flinging Arrows were rating, hoping the pace would take a heavy toll on the early leaders.
It was now that Jockey G. Arnold employed trainer Bristolred’s strategy, urging Bristol Barron thru a 23:69, 2nd quarter that he hoped would shake the early runners and allow his speedy colt to open up enough of a lead to hold off the late running closers. The strategy was working, as Bristol Barron’s lead was now 2 ½ lengths. It was obvious that the duo of Cyrus De Virus and Snatch Away were starting to struggle, of the early leaders only Moldy TB seemed to be keeping pace as he now was only a head behind the struggling duo in 4th, Too Many Shots was already starting to fade and and Blameitonthe boogie was holding steady. The off pace trio of Middle Name Danger, Hyperstorm and Flinging Arrow’s were now 9 ½ – 10 ½ lengths off the lead, an awful lot of ground to make up against quality opponents like these.
As the field hit the 6 furlong marker for the stretch run, it was looking like a 2 colt race with Bristol Barron determinedly digging in to hold off the charging Moldy TB who was inching closer to the lead with every stride. Snatch Away was still a game 3rd, but fading slowly, while Bsben5’s Bitter Lime was making a move and loomed boldy in 5th, just outside of Blameitonthe boogie whose steady gate was keeping him in the contending mix. Hyperstorm had easily overtaken Middle Name Danger, who seemed to be laboring a bit, for 10th position but the he was still 8 ½ lengths behind the leader.
As the colts hit mid stretch, Moldy TB surged by the now tired but game Bristol Barron, hard charging Hyperstorm was really rolling and just nipped Bitter Lime at the wire for the show, Kenneth07’s Wheel of Kash made a belated late move and grabbed 5th from the steady, plodding Blameitontheboogie who held on for 6th, while the favorite Middle Name Danger had to settle for passing the fading front runners and settled for 8th.
Race Comments: (in order of finish)
MOLDY TB: pace played perfectly for fit Stalker, record is 14 of 15 either 1st or 2nd on the turf, 114 speed figure means he can run with the best.
BRISTOL BARRON: classy speedster was as game as they come, ran huge 112 speed figure and factors prominently in every race he’s in.
HYPERSTORM: really came flying late, was still gaining on leaders at the wire. needed a bit faster opening half.
BITTER LIME: saved ground early, made a “bold” rail move on the far turn, flattened a bit and couldn’t gain on leaders thru stretch run
WHEEL OF KASH: reserved early, made a late stretch move to catch all the fading runners, but didn’t threaten top 4.
BLAMEITONTHE BOOGIE: even effort, minor move entering stretch, flattened out in mid stretch, moderate fade to surrender 5th.
SNATCH AWAY: prominent early, couldn’t match strides with Bristol Barron, faded in stretch, but gave ground grudgingly
MIDDLE NAME DANGER: saved ground early, but never hit best stride, plodding effort, never got into the heat of battle.
FLINGING ARROWS: followed Middle Name Danger, plodding effort, never got into the heat of battle.
PIVOT MAN: raced evenly mid pack, never prominent, passed tired early runners.
TOO MANY SHOTS: pressed early leaders in 4th, slow steady fade, dry stretch run.
IT’S ESSENTIAL: dead last early, 2nd quarter put him hopelessly behind, never got into the mix, only caught the dead tired runners.
CYRUS DE VIRUS: was 2nd early, tried to press the leader but couldn’t catch him, out of it by 6 furlongs, faded badly in stretch.
LOOKS LIKE GOLD: chased early leaders mid pack, finished by the stretch, faded badly in stretch.
JENEREGRETTERIEN: mid pack early, no response when asked to run at half mile pole, faded badly in stretch
WRITING FOR REASON: never prominent, dull effort, steady fade throughout entire race
TURFWINS BB: mid pack early, stayed with pace through 4 furlongs, no response when asked, faded badly last half of race.