Virginia stakes doubleheader provides thrills for racing fans
Upset was the word of the day in this week’s Mario’s Logs Challenge, as Bubba Jess, one of the longshots in the field, stormed home to capture the prize. I pegged him as an off track specialist coming in, but he proved that he can in fact handle firm turf as well, and stepped up to outrun a good field here for the win. This was his fourth career stakes victory, and pushes his career earnings to over $200K. It also bolstered his rank in the three year old Turf Classic Division to an 121 rank, helping his dirt classic rating to 84, as well. There was joy at the betting windows this week, with the winner paying $30.20 $12.60 $8.20 across the board, and contributing to a $159.50 exacta and a $1631.50 trifecta.
The early break in this one was tight, with Bubba Jess, Empire Shaker, and Manaito all vying for a share of the early lead. None of the three would give any ground in the first half and they were all within a head as they approached the half. At the halfway mark, Empire Shaker began to fade, and Bubba Jess and Manaito managed to open up two on the field, with Bubba Jess gaining a little breathing space of the quarters of a length by third call. As they turned for home, Bourbon Heights(IRE) started moving steadily up the rail, slowly cutting into the lead, but in the end he just missed catching Bubba Jess who crossed the wire with half a length of lead to spare. Bourbon Heights(IRE) took second place honors, and Manaito held on for third place, two and a quarter out at the wire.
In the second half of our doubleheader, we had another thriller, as Standing Around held of the closers to take the Sugar And Spice Stakes in wire to wire fashion. This was her fourth stakes victory and her thirteenth victory overall in twenty four starts. Her career earnings soared to over half a million dollars with the win, hitting the $528190 mark. Not bad at all for a modestly bred filly trying to make a name for herself. Bet payouts were ok but not spetacular, with the winner paying $7.90 $4.40 $2.10 across the board, and figuring into a $35.90 exacta and a $57.60 trifecta.
Standing Around simply shot out of the gate in this one, opening up nearly two lengths on the field before they even hit the two furlong mark. As they crossed the half, rather than fading, she seemed to strengthen, stretching a three length lead at the half to three and a half as they turned for home. The rest of the field didn’t just fold up, though, and Chance For Delta was flying down the stretch, coming from six and a half out at the half to close hard as they headed for the wire. Time ran out though, and as the dust cleared, Standing Around had grabbed victory by a scant quarter length over Chance For Delta. Knickers Off, ran a very steady race, holding her position to take third place honors, three lengths out at the wire.