Big Race Recap 2958
Big races were run last week as the three year old division continued to be very competitive. Solar Song and Tenacious V kept up their dominance over their perspective divisions while we were treated to yet another great race between Sunnybank Memorial and Rain God.
Race: 2958.0415 Travelers Stakes – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Dirt
New Found Cyclone added his second three year old classic race to his resume. The win vaults him to the number one ranking in this three year old division. New Found Cyclone got a near perfect trip behind a quick early pace. He was fourth in the early stages about three and a half lengths off the pace. Divine Inspiration was pressed early but got clear on the lead by a length at the half mile pole and was a length and a quarter clear of the field entering the stretch.
New Found Cyclone picked up the chase around the turn into the stretch and bore down on the tiring Divine Inspiration taking the lead by mid stretch. Ermington Pegasus was near the back early a little over nine lengths off the early pace. He made a mild move around the turn for home and exploded into the stretch gobbling up ground with each stride.
Also at the back of the pack was Virtuoso who was eleven and a half lengths off the early pace. He followed in the path of Ermington Pegasus around the turn and made a big kick in the stretch. New Found Cyclone held on to the wire with Ermington Pegasus bearing down on him in deep stretch to win by three quarters of a length. Virtuoso finished up third two lengths behind the winner with Divine Inspiration lasting for fourth.
Race: 2958.0114 CA Classic – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Dirt
I think it is safe to say at this point that Solar Song is dominating his division this year. This was his fourth grade I win this year alone and he adds another prestigious race to his resume. He was eleven and a half lengths off the early pace and it mattered not. He cruised into contention around the turn for home and drove through the stretch with an incredible burst passing rivals with reckless abandon to win by two and a quarter lengths.
The real race was for the place. Slither and Twist of Lemon kept each other company the entire race. Slither was just in front of Twist of Lemon in the early stages by a quarter length. Twist of Lemon kept close tabs all the way into the stretch where Slither edged away to a half length advantage but Twist of Lemon battled back. Slither though proved the better holding off Twist of Lemon for the place. Twist of Lemon was third and Silver Canuck got fourth.
Race: 2958.0316 The Aslan Memorial Turf Classic 5th Running – Grade I – $500,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf
Score one for Sunnybank Memorial. In the preview the statistics showed how to this point Rain God has gotten the better of Sunnybank Memorial over the years. This one turned out to be a great race with the top two runners going at it in the stretch and running very fast speed figures.
Sunnybank Memorial was well off the early pace in this race ten and a half lengths back in the early stages. Rain God was in his usual position stalking the early pace in second and taking over after the first six furlongs. It became apparent as the field headed into the final turn this one was coming down to these two runners. Rain God had a three and a quarter length lead entering the stretch but Sunnybank Memorial had closed a lot of ground and was just under five lengths back.
Rain God was stubborn but Sunnybank had big momentum that carried him to Rain God in mid stretch and pulled away to a convincing two and three quarter length win in deep stretch. Rain God held second. Puppet Regime ran evenly today finishing third almost twelve lengths behind the winner.
Race:2958.1015 Prince’s Knight Stakes – Grade I – $300,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: Seven furlongs on the Dirt
Moneygrowsontrees showed why he should be respected as the number two ranked three year old sprinter. He had been consistent all year long in graded stakes and today was no different. He had a fast pace to chase and took full advantage of the pace screaming through the stretch catching a couple of other closers in deep stretch winning by a length and a half.
Barb’s Leisure showed continued improvement in a strong second place finish. This colt has been getting better all summer. He found himself midpack this week and side by side with Samoth right from the beginning. These two got together shortly after the start and ran side by side pretty much the whole way. These two appeared to really push each other as they accelerated from seven lengths off the early pace in tandem. When they got to the stretch they kept churning along only getting run down by the sharp winner. It took a photo to separate them with Barb’s Leisure getting second and Samoth having to settle for third.
The sensational filly Benny Being Benny sped away to a clear advantage early but could not hold off the boys. Still she gave a good account of herself finishing fifth three lengths behind the winner.
Race: 2958.0115 Del Webb Oaks – Grade I – $350,000
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Turf
This one was fairly predictable as Tenacious V wins easily. She has dominated the ladies in these middle distance turf races all year long and today was no different. She was in her customary position at the back of the pack early. She made up some ground around the turn but really kicked it into gear in the stretch blowing by the pace setting Bad Scene to win by three widening lengths at the wire.
Bad Scene was not really tested on the lead today but she sped away to a comfortable two length lead over the field in the early stages. From there she pushed the pace and the lead to six and a half lengths entering the stretch but it was not enough of a cushion to hold off Tenacious V. Sun Shaft closed from the back of the pack to pick up the show nearly nine lengths behind the winner.