Hawk River(IRE) captures win in Galt House Stakes

Hawk River(IRE) made his move at the third call and storm home to capture this week’s Galt House Stakes by three lengths. This is his second stakes victory and they have come back to back, leaving him riding a two race winning streak. He now has eight wins in twenty eight career starts, and it pushes his lifetime earnings to the $166934 mark. The victory also pushes him to the 104 rank among older turf long routers, a division encompassing some of the most famous horses in the world. Betting return wasn’t in the highlight this week, with Hawk River(IRE) paying $4.60 $2.30 $2.10 across the board. The exotics got a bit of a bump from a surprise second place winner, though not much, paying $20.80 for the exacta and $43.00 for the trifecta.

The entire field had similar running styles here, and the break was very tight, with all five runners trying to establish themselves early. Purple Canoe managed to grab a short early lead, pulling out front a little, but not managing to ever extend it over a length and a quarter. At the halfway point, the whole field was still within three lengths of each other, with no one wanting to give an inch. There was no real surge forward at the half though, and Purple Canoe and Hawk River(IRE) dueled for the lead till past the third call. Purple Canoe managed to hold off the challenger until about the eleven furlong marker, but then Hawk River(IRE) just stretched out his stride and walked away down the stretch, capturing the victory by three lengths. Purple Canoe held on to second in a nice show of stamina. Ringside Vim took third place, holding on with the late runners, out four and a quarter at the wire.