Digging The Grave solidifies number two ranking in Tuff Gong(IRE) Memorial

Digging The Grave lived up to his odds Saturday, capturing the Tuff Gong(IRE) Memorial by a length and three quarters. This race was about the early speed, and the frontrunners brought it home easily in this sprint. Digging The Grave notched his twelfth career stakes win, and his second in a row, creeping closer to that coveted number one Turf Sprint ranking. The win also took him to almost 2.6 million dollars in earnings in twenty eight career starts. Some longer odds in the second and third position helped to bolster the exotic payouts a bit, but this one still didn’t make anyone rich at the betting window. The winner paid $5.20 $3.40 $2.10 across the board, with $24.40 in the exacta and $109.00 in the trifecta.

Digging The Grave and Fast Grouse broke from the gate in the early lead and they battled hard right up to the third call. Fast Grouse managed to open up a scant quarter length over the first half. As these two fought for the lead, they left the rest of the field nearly four lengths behind at the half. As they turned for home, Digging The Grace took over, grabbing the lead, and widening the gap as they tore down the stretch. The closers did fire in this one, but they just had too much real estate to make up, and too much speed up front to come close. Fast Grouse hung on for second place, a length and a quarter out. Explosive Touch, who ran a very steady race, and was slowly closing down the stretch took third place honors, two and a half out at the wire.