Big Race Recaps 2860
Closers might have ruled the day in
Race: 2860.0815 Middle Jewel Stakes – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and three sixteenths on the Dirt
New Found Cyclone lived up to his favorite status scoring a very nice two length win. Cyclone stalked from the fifth position early about four lengths off the early pace. He moved into contention around the turn for home and had the leader swallowed up by the time he entered the stretch. From there he put it to the rest of the field giving up very little ground on his way to the win.
Long shot Intergalactic ran a big one. His road to the Middle Jewel was a bit different than others. He started along the trail for the Bluegrass Derby but had problems in the Risen Star Stakes. He regrouped from there and won a listed stakes then ran a very nice race scoring a grade II victory. He came in well rested where as many others here were turning back on two weeks rest.
In the early stages Intergalactic was mid pack about seven lengths off the pace. He steadily made head way around the turn and into the stretch but was unable to make up enough ground on New Found Cyclone through the stretch to seriously threaten for the win. Ermington Pegasus ran another solid race hitting the board in the second leg of the three year old spring classics. He followed Intergalactic the entire race finishing a clear third.
Race:2860.0814 Black Middle Flower Stk – Grade I – $500,000
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt
Whip Smart was brilliantly placed through out the race and that resulted in a beautiful win. Sitting fourth early only four lengths off the pace Whip Smart was in great position. She was stalking the quick pace of K’s Stand Tall. K’s Stand Tall took advantage of a lack of pace and shot to the lead from the gates. K’s Stand Tall shook clear by two lengths and by the time she entered the stretch she had a two and a quarter length lead. It was Whip Smart though that had picked up the chase.
Whip Smart moved up around the turn for home and surged forward in the stretch. K’s Stand Tall was brave on the lead and did not give it up easily making Whip Smart earn it through the stretch. In the end Whip Smart edged to a length and three quarter length win. K’s Stand Tall held second. Dixieland Deputy closed strongly from near the back of the pack. She missed out on the Oaks but the extra rest may have been the key to her running well here. She was almost twelve lengths off the early pace and closed with a rush to get the show just three and a quarter lengths behind the winner.