Big Race Recaps 2846
Race: 2846.0315 A wide open race that appeared to be void of speed was won by a monster closer who just got up to pass another closer in the last few strides to the wire. When the gates opened it was a bit of a surprise to see Black Clown grab the lead. He had been sitting just off the pace even pressing the pace a little in his previous races but today he was on the lead. He took full advantage of having the lead disposing of the other pace setters at the half way point and built a commanding three length lead into the stretch. Meanwhile Virtuoso was near the back of the pack in seventeenth position thirteen lengths off the early pace. Sitting more mid pack was Ermington Pegasus about eighth and a half lengths off the pace. When the field got towards the end of the back stretch and around the turn for home the pretenders were dropping out and the contenders were stepping up. Ermington Pegasus maneuvered through traffic up to third place around the turn gaining ground on the leader. Virtuoso began a colossal move around the turn cutting from seventeenth to fifth by the top of the stretch. Into the stretch Black Clown was tiring but holding sway. Ermington Pegasus and Virtuoso were closing strongly. It was deep stretch before Ermington Pegasus got to the lead but in another few strides Virtuoso got by him at the wire for a quarter length win. Black Clown held third two and a half lengths behind the winner and New Found Cyclone finished fourth. Race: 2846.0314 The best closer in the field also won the Oaks. Armed With Money was seventeenth early on just like the Casa Bonita was mid pack early on but had moved to within striking distance at the top of the stretch. Casa Bonita moved by the leader in mid stretch and was full of run. Armed With Money had Casa Bonita in her sights though and just kept coming like an unleashed beast all the way to the wire just getting by Casa Bonita by a half length. Whip Smart turned a smart stalking trip into a third place Oaks finish. She had enough to get by the early pace setters but had no answer when the top two closers went by her in the stretch. She finished four and a half lengths behind the winner. Race: 2846.5314 Adelaide Oaks – Grade I – $400,000 The lightly raced Wicked Wench (IRE) made short work of this field of long distance turf runners. In just her fifth career start she gives a smashing performance in her first grade I try. Wicked Wench stalked in sixth not too far off the early pace. When asked she moved up was pressing the leader entering the stretch. At the top of the stretch she accelerated and cruised home uncontested winning by four and a half lengths. Futuristic stalked the early pace in third and moved up in the stretch but could not keep up with the winner. She finished second four and a half lengths behind the winner. The early pace setter was Rude Stellas (AUS) who faded a bit in the stretch but held third seven and three quarter lengths behind the winner. Good to be King was the only runner who made up much ground in the stretch and that was not a whole lot. He was towards the back early and moved up a bit because the pace was slow but could not make up enough ground to threaten. Shacklebolt ran evenly through the stretch and passed a few tiring rivals to get third seven and a quarter length behind the winner. Race:2846.4915 The 1000 Guineas – Grade I – $250,000 Chop Never Stops was quick from the gates and quickly established a clear lead. She built that lead up to three and a quarter lengths at the top of the stretch and was full of run in the stretch. It took a great closing move to catch her at the wire. Peyragudes stalked the early pace from third but could not gain on the top two finishing third by two lengths. Malindi is no longer undefeated on the turf as she finished up fourth. Long Shots dominate the 2000 Guineas. Of course when you talk long shots at this level you are talking about some pretty good horses. Andy’s Choice closed out strong winning at odds of 16/1. He had been running at longer distances and today he really excelled with the cut back in distance. He was near the back early and unleashed a great kick in the stretch to win over two other long shots by a length and three quarters. Hail Cesario has just been totally off his game since closing out his two year old campaign with a grade I win. He tried the dirt last time out and maybe something clicked because he fired a good one today. Stalking mid pack he made a move to the front. Andy’s Choice was right with him and went by him in the stretch but Hail Cesario kept running and got by Very Silver at the wire for second. Very Silver stalked and made the lead a the top of the stretch The winner just had too much run today for him to keep up bit a very good third place finish. Race: 2846.5916 Keg of Guinness– Grade I – $500,000 Two of the big names decided to take the day off while the other two battled it out in the stretch. Rise to KLP rose to the occasion. The old veteran was near the back early on in this race. He was not far off the pace only about seven and a half lengths back. Gerfly’s Deed was just ahead of Rise to KLP from the start. The two moved with each other into contention and at the top of the stretch both were moving quickly. Merry Mex had been stalking the early pace and moved up to take over at the top of the stretch. Rise to KLP found his best stride and swept past Merry Mex and Gerfly’s Deed taking control and drawing away for a length and a quarter win. Gerfly’s Deed stayed on well for second. Merry Mex finished third almost four lengths behind the winner. Race: 2846.0306 John Henry Classic – Grade I – $500,000 This by far was the best finish of the day. When all was said and done there were three horses right there at the wire. Rain God, Puppet Regime and Rapid Grey were all on top of their games today. Rain God sat off the pace today stalking from fourth. When asked he went right to the pace setter and opened up on the field by three and a quarter lengths on the field. Puppet Regime was not too far off Rain God in the early stages and at the top of the stretch it was Puppet Regime taking up the chase from second. Rapid Grey meanwhile was at the back of the pack fourteen lengths off the early pace. He too moved forward and was only eight and a half lengths behind Rain God entering the stretch. All three were running well through the stretch the two closers gaining on Rain God inch by inch. In a flash all three hit the wire heads apart and it was Rapid Grey with a big closing kick wining by head over Puppet Regime who also closed well. Rain God was relegated to third three quarters of a length back in the blanket finish.
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Dirt
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt
Track: Victoria
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf
Race: 2846.5313 Adelaide Derby – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Victoria
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf
Cortez (IRE) continues to separate himself from his three year old turf piers with another impressive win. Cortez (IRE) pressed the early pace here and drew away. Cortez (IRE) had a four and three quarter length lead entering the stretch and cruised home to win by three over Good to be King.
Track: Newmarket
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: One mile on the Turf
Tenacious V just gets by the pace setter in the final jumps closing from dead last to add another grade I win to her resume. Dead last in the early stages Tenacious V was over ten lengths behind the pace setter. She moved up a bit around the final turn but saved her best for the stretch where she exploded making up seven and a half impressive lengths just getting up at the wire by a quarter length.
Race: 2846.4914 The 2000 Guineas – Grade I – $350,000
Track: Newmarket
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: One mile on the Turf
Track: Ireland
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Turf
Track: Kentucky
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf