Big Race Recaps 2979
The thriller this week was at
Race: 2979.3315 Queen Ascot Stakes – Grade I – $750,000
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up
Distance: One mile on the Turf
Thirteenth Date had to run her career best race to win this race by just a half length over Devil’s Slide who also ran a career best speed figure in a race that lived up to all the hype. This weeks races might have not have seemed real thrilling on paper but this was quite possibly the best filly and mare turf route field assembled all year long.
Thirteenth Date and Devil’s Slide both found themselves near the back of the pack in the early stages. Spicegirl set the pace and carried the field to the top of the stretch Thirteenth Date almost nine lengths behind the early pace with Devil’s Slide almost ten lengths behind the pace. The Auss Boss (AUS) was well positioned early sitting fifth. As the field moved around the turn for home The Auss Boss (AUS) moved up to Spicegirl on the lead while Thirteenth Date and Devil’s Slide were making big moves on the turn.
At the top of the stretch the Auss Boss (AUS) in just her second start of the year was running a big one on the lead in the stretch but that lead was short lived. Thirteenth Date roared past in mid stretch down the outside with Devil’s Slide splitting horses. At the wire Thirteenth Date was a half length better than Devil’s Slide who had gotten by The Auss Boss (AUS) late. The Auss Boss (AUS) held third with a length and a quarter behind the winner.
Race: 2958.0116
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt
Bush Wins Again showed up big time crushing this solid field of fillies and mares. When the gates opened for this race Corzaffair (IRE) proceeded to run nearly every contender right out of the race in the opening half mile. Swift Kick and Squall Is A Storm both found themselves much further off the pace than usual while others were chasing a pace they could not handle.
Bush Wins Again could handle the pace and seemed to relish having a target to run down. Bush Wins Again was stalking in third picked up the pace around the turn and was chasing Corzaffair (IRE) who had a near two length lead entering the stretch. That is where Bush Wins Again found another gear and motored home to win easily by lengths over Corzaffair (IRE). The third place runner was Fall Classic who next to last early on and moved past her tiring rivals in the late stages of the race. She was making up ground on the leaders in the stretch but never really threatened finishing six lengths behind the winner. The fourth place horse was another ten and three quarter lengths behind Fall Classic.
Race: 2979.3516 The TELLING LIES AND GETTING PAID Stakes – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Longchamp
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: Six furlongs on the Turf
At the top of the stretch there were nine runners within two and a half lengths of each other. It was Northern Pirate the last of those nine entering the stretch who had the momentum that would carry him to victory. Omerta Code had a near perfect trip stalking the early pace from fourth. He had moved up and grabbed the lead at the top of the stretch.
The favorite I Make Stuff Up was sitting mid pack early and had moved up to third by the top of the stretch on the heels of Omerta Code. The top three separated themselves from the rest of the field as Omerta Code tied to shake loose. I Make Stuff Up was slowly cutting into the lead. Northern Pirate though was just too good though as he passed both the top runners in deep stretch to win by a length and a quarter. Omerta Code held off the favorite I Make Stuff Up by a quarter length.
Race: 2979.4616
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf
Nerf Herder made it three wins in a row. This young filly has really started to run well in recent months. She won a non winners of four lifetime allowance followed by a listed stakes race before winning this grade I. Nerf Herder sat fourth early on about six lengths off the early pace. She was chasing the pace of Icy Slumber.
Icy Slumber established a clear early lead and led by as many as four lengths in the early stages. At the top of the stretch Icy Slumber was three and thee quarter lengths ahead of the field. That is were Nerf Herder picked up the pace making ip ground quickly. Nerf Herder flew through the stretch catching Icy Slumber and putting two and a half lengths on her by the wire. Icy Slumber held second after setting the pace. Busker (IRE) stalked the early pace in third and ran evenly though the stretch to only finish three and a half lengths behind the winner.