Grade-2 Hall Of Fame Stake Recap
Showing that his victory in the Grade-2 Colonial Derby was just a precursor of what was to transpire in this week’s Hall Of Fame Stake. Trainer Chloedawg’s 3 year old colt Weekend Romance really raised the bar, unleashing a huge move around the final turn and literally inhaled the 6 horses that stood between him and the finish line. Trainer Apindy001’s colt Mr. Fuji, who grabbed the lead at 7 furlongs, resolutely dug in and tried to match strides Weekend Romance, but proved no match for the high flying winner and had to settle for 2nd, despite an outstanding effort that normally produces a victory. The winning speed figure an eye-popping 115.805 stamps Weekend Romance as a definite Breeder Bowl contender and raises his lifetime earnings to $892,430 and should move him into the top 20 in the 3 year old Classic Turf Colt Division. Trainer Foxon’s colt Ethereal Drumbeat rallied to grab the show money and trainer Super30’s colt Jive Talking and trainer Tazbred’s Bomber’s A Flyer rounded out the top 5 finishers
RACE RECAP:
The boys had to chase trainer Supapogs1’s speedy filly Lastpostonthebugle early as she blazed to an opening 1st quarter in 23.05, trainer Asoiaf2’s colt Wrath Of Poseidon was inside the filly, applying pressure ¾ length off her flank. TrainerMadamson’s colt Super Saver and Mr. Fuji stalked the lead pair 2 & 3 lengths behind. Bunched mid pack 4 to 6 lengths back were trainer Kidvegas colt Ghost Of Humor, Trainer Banco’s filly Sixpence, trainer Assault111’s colt Maui Dubawi and Ethereal Drumbeat drafted those three 4 ¾ lengths from the lead. Jive Talking and weekend Romance were 9th and 11th with Bomber’s A Flyer and trainer Turffever3’s colt Oneswingofthebat bringing up the rear, already 10 & 11 lengths behind the lead pair.
Through a half mile in 46:94 the running order of the top 5 hadn’t changed, but Ethereal Drumbeat had inched up to 6th at the expense of the other filly Sixpence, who was already struggling to keep the pace. Near the rear, in 13th position, it was apparent that it wasn’t to be trainer Stallascot’s colt Saranac’s day either as he was already drifting back and seemed in duress.
As the field hit the 6 furlong marker on the far turn, Lastpostonthebugle was all out trying to hold off Mr. Fuji, who was obviously full of run for the stretch drive. Wrath Of Poseidon was in 3rd but starting to slowly fade and trying to hold off the advancing Super Baby. Ethereal Drumbeat was now in 5th gaining and drawing a bead on the pair battling for 3rd. Jive Talking also looked to be rallying in 6th but Weekend Romance was 7th just to his outside and breathing down his neck. Ghost Of Humor and Maui Dubawi were fading together and Bomber’s A Flyer in 10th was gaining and grinding, picking off the tired runners.
Deep Stretch saw Mr. Fuji valiantly trying to hold off Weekend Romance, but the son of Dynaformer has an extra gear and ran by him with 30 yards to spare. Mr Fuji easily held 2nd place a full 3 lengths ahead of Ethereal Drumbeat who gave a good steady effort and registered a career best 110.974 speed figure for his effort. Jive Talking followed him in for 4th and Bomber’s A Flying rallied by the others for the final Minor Award..
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Race Comments: (in order of finish)
WEEKEND ROMANCE: super, impressive winner with another huge sweeping stretch run. Makes it 5 wins in last 6 races and puts Weekend Romance in position for top-20 Division rating and in line for a run at a Breeder Bowl event.
MR. FUJI: stalked the early leaders in 4th, made big move between 5 & 6 furlongs and grabbed lead at the head of the stretch only to be caught in deep stretch by eventual winner. Career best 114.486 speed figure stamps him as a legitimate Graded Stake contender.
ETHEREAL DRUMBEAT: outstanding steady effort, mid pack early in 8th, steadily improved position, loomed boldly at the top of the stretch, couldn’t match strides with the top pair, easily best of the rest..
JIVE TALKING: good effort, 9th early, rallied on far turn to 6th only 6 lengths off lead, couldn’t get closer as his rally stalled mid stretch, dug in to save 4th.
BOMBER’S A FLYER : saved ground in 13th , conceded 14 ½ lengths at 4 furlongs, rallied nicely past “tired” runners in stretch but couldn’t threaten top 4 finishers.
SUPER BABY: decent effort, stalked early leaders, loomed boldly in 3rd, 2 ½ lengths from the lead at 6 furlong call, but couldn’t close gap and hung in the stretch drive.
LASTPOSTONTHEBUGLE: early leader, filly responded well to pressure and tried to open up at 4 furlong call but couldn’t break away from field, prominent to 7 furlongs, slow steady fade through stretch.
WRATH OF POSEIDON: 2nd thru 4 furlongs, pressured early leader, still loomed large in 3rd at 6 furlongs, couldn’t match strides with rallying horses and faded to 8th.
GHOST OF HUMOR: tried to “stalk early leaders, shuffled back at 6 furlongs and came up empty in stretch drive.
MAUI DUBAWI: mid pack thru 4 furlongs, no response when jockey asked for stretch run, drifted wide while fading during stretch run.
ONESWINGOFTHEBAT: broke 14th and saved ground early, never got involved, only passed “dead” tired runners and ones that didn’t fit the class level.
I LOVE NEW YORK: broke 10th, never got into contention, slow steady fade with nothing left for stretch run.
SIXPENNY: mid pack early, faltering and struggling to keep pace by the 4 furlong call, filly had nothing left after 6 furlongs and thru the stretch run.
SARANAC: off in 12th and 9 ¼ lengths behind at the 2 furlong marker, that’s as close as he could get, faded badly from the 4 furlong pole to the wire.