Big Race Recap 2671
Just three grade I races last week and no favorites win. None of the winners were upset winners but a few of the bigger names came up short this week.
Race: 2671.5315 Coxless Stakes – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Turf
Causes Wood (IRE) took it to this field early and never looked back. Causes Wood was allowed to set easy early fractions all alone, on an unpressured pace and no one could catch him late. He had pulled away to a six plus length lead going into the stretch and put it on cruise control from there. Hartel was celebrating a furlong from the wire. Causes Wood won by an easy three and three quarters lengths never being threatened. He ran a quick race up front earning a 107 speed figure.
New Storm was one of the few in the race able to close ground on the winner. He was the best of the rest closing from twelve lengths off the pace out closing The Gourmet for the place. New Storm and The Gourmet were close to each other early on with The Gourmet sitting a little closer to the pace. New Storm just had more in the tank in the stretch getting the place with The Gourmet getting the show.
The favorites Turning Japanese and Top Jimmy were sixteen lengths off the early pace and made no move forward to get into the race.
Race: 2671.5316 DUR VICTORIAN
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf
Rapid Grey closed from well off the pace to score nice three and three quarter length victory. Coming off a grade I race in his previous race Rapid Grey got little respect from the odds maker. That probably will not happen anymore and he showed once again the ability to compete at this top level.
Sitting fifteen lengths off the early pace Rapid Grey began a closing move that saw him make a huge move around the turn for home. He was only six lengths back at the top of the stretch and full of run. He carried that momentum all the way through the stretch pulling away from the field in the end.
Jupiter’s Moon (IRE) was the only horse really close to Rapid Grey. Instead of setting the pace Jupiter’s Moon (IRE) went back to his stalking ways. He never let the pace setter get far away and look prominent at the top of the stretch breathing down the neck of the pace setter. He faced a common problem he has had all summer and that is a deep closer that blows by him in the stretch. He finished second well clear of the third place finisher and pace setter Empire Shaker.
Race: 2671.5314 DUR VICTORIAN OAKS – 3rd Leg Triple Tiara – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Victoria
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf
Gone Off Sake was able to out close La Pata Daisy in the stretch scoring her second Triple Tiara race this summer. Gone Off Sake was way back in the early stages sixteen lengths off the early pace. La Pata Daisy was mid pack where she usually although a little closer to the pace than usual. Gone Off Sake picked it up at the half way point and around the final turn for home had already made up over ten lengths. La Pata Daisy was assuming the lead at the top of the stretch a little earlier in a race than she usually does.