Big Race Recaps 2832

Race: 2832.0115 San Francisco Capitan Handicap – Grade I – $400,000
Track: California
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf

Well race fans you got what you wanted. Rain God vs. Horseshoe Bay in the stretch. Stalked versus closer and this time the closer proved the best. Horseshoe Bay reasserted his dominance over a good field of runners. He was next to last early on thirteen lengths behind the pace setters. He was on his game today and geared up on the back stretch and around the turn for home.

Rain God stalked the early pace and disposed of the pace setter rounding the turn for home. He opened a near three length lead entering the stretch and looked prominent. Horseshoe Bay though was only seven lengths back and full of run. Into the stretch it was clear this was a two horse race. Horseshoe Bay had the momentum and blazed down the stretch catching an all out Rain God in deep stretch before pulling off by two and three quarter lengths at the wire.

Rain God was second almost eight lengths ahead of Dan Colony the third place finisher. Puppet Regime the surprise winner at the Sand Castle festival dropped back to reality finishing a distant fifth.       

Race: 2832.5415 Sydney Derby – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track: New South Wales
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf

The pace runners dominated the Sydney Derby. In recent years the pace setter has hung around and hit the board and this year it was the stalker Cortez (IRE) that won. Cortez (IRE) took full advantage of getting the jump on the closers. Lex Luthor set the early pace and was clear by several lengths in the early going. As the field rounded the turn for home it was clear none of the closers were firing so it came down to the pace setter and the stalker.

Cortez (IRE) wore away at Lex Luthor in the stretch making up three lengths on him and going on to win by two and a half lengths at the wire. Lex Luthor hung around for the place. Good To Be King made up the most ground of the closers in the stretch to get up for third. Creepshow (IRE) the race favorite struggled through the stretch but managed to finish fourth.   

Race: 2832.5414 Sydney Sprint – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track: New South Wales
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: Five and one half furlongs on the Turf

Digital Overture continued the theme of front runners winning races this day scoring a nice length and a quarter victory. When the gates opened Digital Overture was battling Digging the Grave for the lead and took over the pace setting duties before too long. He powered away in the stretch disposing of the stalkers.

Offstage (GB) was the only runner up to the task of taking up the chase of Digital Overture. From mid pack Offstage (GB) started his charge. He made up good ground through the stretch but in the end Digital Overture was much too much. Offstage (GB) was a game second a length and a half clear of Danz Song Bird.  

Race:2832.5413 Sydney Mile – Grade I – $1,500,000
Track: New South Wales
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: One mile on the Turf

In the preview I worried Mizzen Dizzie might not be fit enough for this group with his recent light racing schedule. However it was clear early in the day that speed was ruling this turf course and there was no better speed in this race than Mizzen Dizzie. He shot like a rocket out of the gates getting clear by several lengths early. He extended that lead to nearly five lengths by the top of the stretch and coasted home through the stretch never threatened winning by two lengths.