Aim For The Moon Reaches For Stardom In CVBear’s Hometown

Aim For The Moon parlayed a swift early pace into a discreet stalking trip, as she overtook early leader Dublin Lass in the stretch en route to a three-quarter length win in Saturday’s $125,000 CVBear’s Hometown Handicap in New York.

As expected, Dublin Lass went out fast early on, chased by Kacymygirl through the early stages. Aim For The Moon and Jackdaw Castle were content to stalk from the pack as the leader pushed out to a lead of two-and-a-half lengths at the three-furlong marker. But the early speed began to wilt, and the pack closed in as the field entered the stretch. Dublin Lass was tenacious, maintaining a lead into deep stretch, but Aim For The Moon kicked clear with about a sixteenth of a mile to run. A late surge by Explosive Storm fell short, as Aim For The Moon was saved by the wire, finishing almost a length in front. Explosive Storm was a valiant but vanquished second, and Kacymygirl, who had been expected to challenge for the early lead, was game while a stubborn third, a length-and-a-quarter back. Dublin Lass couldn’t hold off the latecomers after such strong fractions, but was best of the rest while fourth, beaten two lengths.

Aim For The Moon, a four-year-old daughter of Woodman out of the High Yield mare Jimenez, earned her first graded stakes win in the CVBear’s Hometown, much like Win McCool won her first graded event in the race on which this one was based this past weekend. The filly earned $75,000 for the victory for the barn of teamfoppa, and successfully ran the six furlongs in a dazzling 1:09 1/5; this time earned Aim For The Moon a career-best speed figure of 107.  Congratulations are in order for her connections on their talented filly’s success in the CVBear’s Hometown, a race which is tentatively scheduled to return next year on this same weekend.