Big Race Recaps 2965

Otto History was the only top ranked runner to win this week. It was a day of minor upsets as near mortal locks were upset by the likes of Barb’s Back Home, Gathering Momentum, Whispering Sound, and Adios Amigo. 

Race: 2965.3515 Maudlin Cup – Grade I – $450,000
Track: Longchamp
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: One mile on the Turf

Barb’s Back Home upset the defending champ in sound fashion. This race appeared to one of those no one wanted to win. Mizzen Dizzie had every thing his way getting the early lead establishing a clear pace while entering the stretch with a two length lead. Barb’s Back Home sat chilly stalking the early pace and made a move around the turn entering the stretch.

The second Mizzen Dizzie did not kick home well Barb’ Back Home picked up the bit and stormed home through the stretch to win by an impressive two and a quarter lengths over Mizzen Dizzie. Peintre Indyman closed well from more than eleven lengths off the early pace to finish third just two and a half lengths behind the winner.  

Race: 2965.0316 Mint Julep Dirt Distaff– Grade I – $1,000,000
Track: Kentucky
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 4 years old and up
Distance: One mile on the Dirt

It was no surprise really to see Otto History shake clear in the early stages and dominate throughout the race. This field had some good speed to keep Otto honest but no one went with her early and she made them pay. She was clear by more than a length early, and had a four and a half length lead entering the stretch. She coasted home never threatened winning by three lengths. This super impressive mare is the early favorite for the Breeder’s Bowl Distaff.

Berzerk Gold rebounded from a miserable performance to run a very solid second. She stalked from fifth and picked up the pace through the stretch chasing the easy winner. Classic closed from a long way back making up almost seven lengths in the stretch. She went from seventh to third in a flash finishing three and three quarter lengths behind the winner.  

Race: 2965.7514 Brokeback Mountain – Grade I – $500,000
Track: North Dakota
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: One mile on the Dirt

Gathering Momentum pulled of the upset of Zygote. In the preview it was obvious it was going to take a huge effort to take down Zygote and that was exactly what happened. Gathering Momentum got the lead from the gate and never looked back. He threw down a fast early pace and entering the stretch he had a two and a quarter length lead on the field and most importantly was more than ten lengths ahead of Zygote.

Zygote made a huge move through the stretch and it made Gathering Momentum appear to be running in slow motion. In the end Zygote never really threatened Gathering Momentum as he won by a length and a quarter at the wire. The real story here is the running style employed by either Zygote’s trainer or the Jockey.

Never in Zygote’s thirteen previous races has he been more than nine and a half lengths off the early pace and that was as a two year old. Today he was thirteen and a half lengths back at the halfway point? I think this is why grade I races are not run in South Dakota very often.

Uncle Rico pressed the early pace of Gathering Momentum trying to keep him honest and that paid off with a third place finish five lengths behind the winner.

Race: 2965.0416 Mint Julep Turf Distaff– Grade I – $1,000,000
Track: New York
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 4 years old and up
Distance: One mile on the Turf

Continuing the trend of favorites being upset Whispering Sound runs a big one to upset Lake Bemidji. Normally when Whispering Sound runs big she does it  by getting the early lead. Today she pressed the pace from third place. When asked she assumed the lead around the turn for home and had established a near two length, and widening, advantage at the top of the stretch. She made it count staying on well all the way to the wire never really threatened winning by a length and three quarters.

Lake Bemidji was the heavy favorite but broke last. Normally she stays a little closer to the pace but today she more than eleven lengths off the early pace. She made a big kick in the late stages chewing up ground on the winner moving from ninth to second in the stretch. Greek Ransom was a bit of a long shot here. She also stalked the early pace and ran gamely in the stretch to finish third four and a quarter lengths behind the winner.  

Race: 2965.0414 Princess Di Cap – Grade I – $500,000
Track: New York
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Turf

What do you do when your runner finishes fourth in an allowance, and fourth in a listed stakes beaten by eight lengths? You enter a grade I of course and win it!! That is just what Adios Amigo did this week taking this race by almost two lengths. She was respected before the race by the odds makers and the first lines in this paragraph leave out the fact she has the class to compete at this level.

Adios Amigo was well back early twelve lengths off the early pace of Empire Reef. From there she weaved in and out of traffic around the turn and kicked home strongest of all in the stretch. Dead Solid Perfect (IRE) was also near the back of the pack just behind Adios Amigo. She closed with Adios Amigo through the stretch but could not match the winner in the stretch finishing second.

Getaloadofthis was just ahead of the top two in the early stages but got passed in the stretch by the top two finishing third two and a half lengths behind the winner. Empire Reef held fourth after setting the pace.

Race: 2965.0412 Simulated Sports Horse Racing Hall of Fame Stakes – Grade I – $500,000
Track: New York
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Turf

The top four runners in this one were easy to identify in the preview but hard to separate. That is just how this race finished as the top three runners required a photo to separate them with the fourth place finisher just a length and a quarter behind that. A Wholenuworld stormed out to the early lead getting clear by four lengths in the early stages. Seeking Sal had taken his customary stalking position in fourth about seven lengths off the pace while New Storm was bringing up the rear eleven lengths off the pace.

At the half way point things started to heat up. A Wholenuworld pushed his lead to five lengths by the top of the stretch with Seeking Sal picking up the chase in second and New Storm had moved all the way up to fifth. A Wholenuworld was running out of gas but was game, Seeking Sal was picking up ground, as was New Storm. All three of these runners came together a few steps from the wire for a fantastic finish. New Storm had gotten his nose up over Seeking Sal with A Wholenuworld having to settle for third.