Big Race Recap 2734
What a week. We saw improbably upsets of Swift Kick and Thnxmsslew. Casterly Rock (IRE) continued his winning ways and Creepshow (IRE) responded well to his first defeat.
Race: 2734.0416 Fair Warning Grade I – $500,000
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt
Daylight T scores her first graded victory upsetting a field that included the last two Breeder’s Bowl Distaff winners. Daylight T had finished third in a couple of grade I races but in her two most recent graded races had not been close. Daylight T found herself pressing a slow to moderate pace for this level of racing. On the back stretch she put away the early pace setter and stretched out a two and a half length lead around the turn and into the stretch.
Mean while the favorite Swift Kick was stalking the slower pace in fourth not very far off the pace, and Squall is a Storm was mid pack but only about four lengths off the pace. As Daylight T was motoring up front it was Swift Kick and Squall is a Storm that took up the chase. It was obvious in early stretch Swift Kick was out of gas and not making up ground. Squall is a Storm however was full of run and slowly wearing into Daylight T’s lead.
Despite the late run of Squall is a Storm Daylight T had enough to hold her off by three quarters of a length at the wire. Squall is a Storm rebounded from a couple of sub par runs to finish second and she may be a player in this division as a five year old. Berenguela closed well in the stretch from mid pack to beat out Swift Kick for the show.
Race: 2734.3716 Lion of Lannister – Grade I – $500,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 4 year olds
Distance: Six furlongs on the Dirt
The top two choices in this race lived up to their expectations giving us one hell of a race to the wire. Casterly Rock (IRE) showed once again why he is the best dirt sprinter going right now, winning his third grade I race in his last four runs. Salmon Hater had been running extremely well, so well in fact the odds makers made him the slight favorite over the Breeder’s Bowl Sprint winner.
When the gate opened Salmon Hater went right to the front receiving a little pressure from My Sheba T. Casterly Rock (IRE) was in his normal stalking position only about two and a half lengths off of Salmon Hater’s pace. Salmon Hater shook clear of My Sheba T near the top of the stretch and had a length and a quarter head start on Casterly Rock (IRE). Casterly Rock (IRE) slowly gained ground and in deep stretch found another gear moving easily by Salmon Hater to win by a length and a quarter.
Salmon Hater was a clear second. Zysoviet moved well in the stretch to finish third two and three quarter lengths behind the winner. My Sheba T held on to fourth after pressing the pace.
Race: 2734.0114
Track
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Turf
Creepshow (IRE) rebounded from his first career defeat to score a comfortable two length win running his record to three wins from four starts. This race was supposed to be a showdown between Hail Cesario and Creepshow (IRE) two very nice three year old turf colts however Hail Cesario never got going.
Creepshow (IRE) was near the back of the pack in the early going well off the pace setter about ten and a half lengths back. Clemstone (IRE) was the pace setter. He had opened up a clear two plus length lead over the field and found his cruising speed. The only runner in the field that had any kick was Creepshow (IRE). He started closing ground on Clemstone (IRE) around the turn and into the stretch. Clemstone (IRE) fought on well but Creepshow (IRE) was just too much cruising by him in mid stretch and opening up two lengths on Clemstone (IRE) at the wire. Clemstone (IRE) was a clear second in this race. Cortez (IRE) gained a little ground but was a little flat in the stretch finishing third.
Race: 2734.0316 Sky Beauty AHndicap – Grade I – $500,000
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: Six furlongs on the Dirt
This is what you call a tight finish. Only four lengths separated first and fourteenth. To see the final speed figures this race was very allowance like and that could have been a reason for the close finish. Peace Blossom was first out of the gates and established a clear two length lead on the field. Powered by Azroc took up the chase in second while Thnxmsslew was near the back early four and a half lengths behind the pace.
Peace Blossom at times looked very strong on the lead then it looked like she was tiring but she just kept going. Thnxmsslew picked it up from the back of the field and moved through traffic in the stretch but nearly every runner in the field was gaining on the pace setter. Thnxmsslew hooked up with Peace Blossom in deep stretch but somehow Peace Blossom held on to the wire scoring a head victory of Thnxmsslew. Powered by Azroc was just a quarter length behind finishing third, Seekers Keepers a half length back in fourth.