‘Gennie the Genie: Estrogen pure magic, survives Xtremely Gold’s late charge
New Mexico– Pace makes the race. And pity the poor closers when a frontrunner’s let loose…… especially a frontrunner as magical as tnilsson’s classy Estrogen.
And so went the three-movement story of the Grade 2 $250,000 Big Dessert Stakes:
1. First Out Of The Gate
Speedy Estrogen had all the right moves: the bright brown Sadler’s Wells daughter broke straight out of the gate, full of dangerous run. No one went with the 4YO filly and jockey Franco Duffy and that proved key.
2. No Pressure = Insurmoutable Lead
In a race of their own, network7’s mild longshot Sophocles II dueled with layeguada’s sophomore Bidasoa back in second. With those two preoccupied, Estrogen compounded a massive early lead — at one point, she led by near a dozen lengths in the field of eight fillies and mares.
3. Too Much For Late Closer
With over 15 lengths to make up, closer Xtremely Gold had her work cut out for her. Ejdstable’s exciting Touch Gold daughter put forth a herculean effort too, steamboating through the field. The crowd roared with excitement at the gorgeous brown filly’s furious mad rush, but ‘Gold just had too much ground to make up. She fell short a heartbreaking half-length.
Using every inch of the Big Dessert’s 12 furlongs, Estrogen and Duffy timed the run to the wire perfectly. The pair stopped the clock in 2:30 2/5 and a 104 SP# wave o’ the whip. In the winner’s circle, Estrogen danced lightly:
“Racing versus the boys didn’t take anything out of her,” jockey Duffy gushed. “Matter of fact, it made her stronger. ‘Gennie’s pure magic. I call her ‘Gennie the Genie.”
The Big Dessert(G2) was her 3rd graded stakes win this year, adding to her victory over the boys in the Movieland Turf Cup(G1) as well as a springtime triumph in the 11-furlong Spring Fling(G1) versus the girls. Estrogen boasts a 10-for-26 lifetime record with a $1.3-million bankroll.
She’s currently ranked #2 in the distaffer Dirt Long Division, #17 in the Dirt Classic, and #22 in the Turf Long Division. Wow! Where will she go in the Breeders Bowl? Great dillemna for trainer tnilsson…… maybe a couple more stakes points to earn and then ‘Gennie the Genie shall grant a Breeders Bowl wish.