GRADE-2 GERRY COONEY HANDICAP
The old adage in horseracing, “in the end class will tell” played out perfectly in the $ 150,000 Grade-2 Gerry Cooney Handicap contested at a mile on the California Turf. Trainer Broohar3’s 3 year old mare Arc A Comin had been competing against the best in the 3 year old filly / mare division. Despite mixed final results, her three straight Grade-1 efforts against the likes of Miss Timoshenco, Meteoric Buda and Quality Buzz, obviously perfectly tightened her for today’s contest as Arc A Comin looked sharp and fit prevailing by 3 lengths over the late charging fillies, Trainer Thereason’s filly Wine Artie and today’s favorite Trij’s West Hollywood.
The stage was set early for the off pace runners as Equistable’s filly Good Choice and Rman’s filly High Daiwa battled necks, heads and noses apart thru an honest opening quarter of 23:04. Skunkbarn3’s filly After Blaze and the eventual winner Arc A Comin were just ½ length behind, pressing the top pair. Several lengths behind the lead group were Stargazer’s filly Formlee, Nomane’s filly Monster Of Nature, Wine Artie and West Hollywood, all racing comfortably mid pack waiting for the front running group to begin to wilt.
Through a half mile in 46:58 the running order hadn’t changed but Arc A Comin and After Blaze had inched closer and now joined the front running Good Choice and High Daiwa and less than half a length separated the four of them.
As the field hit the 6 furlong marker for the stretch run, Arc A Comin made her move and grabbed a commanding 2 length lead, separating herself from the other 3 leaders. After Blaze was a solid 2nd having put away the now tiring Good Choice and High Daiwa, who were now running 3rd and 4th but Formlee and Monster Of Nature were right at their flanks and Wine Artie and West Hollywood, who both were really starting to roll and were now less than 2 lengths behind the group.
As the fillies hit mid stretch, .Jockey F Gossett had Arc A Comin, under wraps, with a comfortable 3 length lead which she held safe to the wire. Wine Artie and West Hollywood were now finding their best strides and easily overhauled the faltering early front runners crossing the wire in that order. Monster Of Nature nipped the game but retreating After Blaze for 4th just several yards from the wire, the rest of the field struggled home, well beaten.
Race Comments: (in order of finish)
ARC A COMIN: pressed the early speed, as she hit the stretch, her class prevailed and she won easily. Impressive 111 (lifetime best) speed figure has her ready to again tackle Grade-1 competition.
WINE ARTIE: good stretch move. Her last 3 races were all “huge” efforts for steadily improving filly. She’s not too far behind the best of the 3 year filly division.
WEST HOLLYWOOD: really came flying late, was still gaining on leaders at the wire. Excellent effort for first 3 year old Stakes try, should move her forward.
MONSTER OF NATURE: saved ground early, raced evenly throughout, still had energy at the wire but was no match for top 3 finishers.
AFTER BLAZE: good effort and was in the thick of the early pace duel. Loomed bold at the top of the stretch but couldn’t hang with winner, held on well for hard earned 5th.
FORMLEE: decent even effort, tried to stalk lead group. Slow steady fade from 6 furlong pole, never really threatened.
RUNAWAY MOON: trailed off pace early, belated rally could only catch tiring early leaders.
WHOSON CAT: dead last trailed early, never got into the heat of battle and could only catch tired early leaders.
HIGH DAIWA: dueled hard early, in the thick of it through 6 furlongs, faded badly in stretch. Outlasted Good Choice in battle of fading early speed.
GOOD CHOICE: early leader could not separate from early pressure. She was prominent to 6 furlongs and faded badly thru the stretch.
SONGSATIONAL: caught wide early, trailed throughout, obviously in duress between 4 and 6 furlongs calls. Jockey A. Lewis pulled up in stretch with possible injury.