Skip Dancer Runs Away With Cubic Zirconia

The highlight of the race day in Iowa on Saturday was the running of the Cubic Zirconia Path Stakes. All eleven fillies and mares loaded into the gait without protest and the tense seconds began to tick by until the starting gates would open and the horses would spring out onto the track.

All eleven horses broke out of the gate cleanly with Dark Silver owned by jin and ridden by jockey O. Brooks took an early lead of one-fourth a length over the rest of the field. The Moose Is Loose (IRE) owned by babybarns was just a few paces back in second. In third was the stungunn trained Private Lessons back two and one-fourth lengths from the current leader. Sacer trained by spqr was trailing the entire pack by eight and one-half lengths.

At the second call of the mile and one sixteenth race, Dark Silver was still in the lead, this time by half a length. The Moose Is Loose (IRE) remained in second, as did Private Lessons in third. Holding fourth place was Cryptoblonde owned by snowchief . Followed by Skip Dancer and Imperial Eagle running fith and sixth, owned by russ and mikb respectfully.

At the third call of the race, Dark Silver continued to hold the lead of what looked to be a possible wire to wire finish. The Moose Is Loose (IRE) continued to hold on steadily to second. Private Lessons dropped back to fourth, three and one-fourth lengths behind the leader, with Skip Dancer now in third. Cryptoblonde had begun to fade from fourth to fifth. Jarrah owned by taztiger began to make a late move in the race moving up two positions on the rest of the field. Advarsel trained by stalcasey continued to maintain a steady position back in seventh. Ju On II, Imperial Eagle, and Answer Back T began to fade to the back of the pack, the other two previously unmentioned horses owned and tranied by patb and graceful .

At last the horses were down to the wire with Skip Dancer surging ahead of the front runners to clinch the win, the almost wire to wire runner, Dark Silver coming in second and Sacer comeing in third after running near the back of the pack for the majority of the race.

Also rans included: The Moose Is Loose (IRE), Private Lessons, Cryptoblonde, Jarrah, Advarsel, Ju On II, Imperial Eagle, and Answer Back T .