Big Race Recaps 3000
Week 3000 had some surprise winners which adds spice to the Breeder’s Bowl card.
Race: 3000.3513
Track: Longchamp
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf
The young three year old Lex Luthor jumped out of the starting gates and jetted to a clear lead early. He was three and a half lengths ahead of the field at the half way point and entered the stretch with a seven and a half length lead. That was not a large enough lead to hold off
Race: 3000.5315 Coalminer Cup – Grade I – $1,500,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf
Lightly raced Director shocks the field at 17/1 going gate to wire. He jumped from the gates like a sprinter and had five length lead at the half way point. The favorites though were more than seventeen lengths behind him at that point. From the half way point he powered to a thirteen length advantage entering the stretch putting the race away by the top of the stretch.
Director coasted home through the stretch beating a hard charging Rain God by a length and a half at the wire. Rain God found him self uncharacteristically seventeen lengths off the early pace. That really cost him all chance at this race despite him making up a ton of ground in the stretch. Rapid Grey was the other favorite along with Hey Zeus and they were both twenty plus lengths off the early pace. Hey Zues stayed just in front of Rapid Grey for third finishing eleven lengths behind the winner.
Race: 3000.0415 Classic Turf Stakes – Grade I – $750,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf
Sunnybank Memorial never got into the race and Cortez (IRE) took advantage of the opening scoring a two and a half length victory. In the early stages Cortez (IRE) was fourth early about eight lengths off the early pace of Tenpin Gold. At the half way point it was stalker The Vanguard that took control of the race pushing ahead of Tenpin Gold and taking the field into the stretch with a two and a quarter length lead.
Cortez (IRE) was there to pick up the pace looming as the only threat to The Vanguard. With each stride Cortez (IRE) picked up ground coming to The Vanguard in deep stretch and putting him away a few strides later winning by two and a half lengths. The Vanguard was second more than six lengths ahead of the third place finisher Jumpin Java.
Race: 3000.0414 Flower Pot Stakes – Grade I – $750,000
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Turf
A Perfect Sunday pulled off the upset by a nose on the wire. Cold Storage was the favorite here on a four race win streak. She broke well and assumed her normal running style on the lead. She got the lead pretty easy and had a five and a half length cushion at the half way point. It appeared as though she had every thing her way in the early stages.
A Perfect Sunday stalked in third and picked up several lengths on Cold Storage around the turn for home. Mean while Spooky Ballet was closing fast after falling behind by almost thirteen lengths in the early stages. At the top of the stretch Cold Storage was struggling but A Perfect Sunday was moving well. Also moving well was Spooky Ballet closing with a rush. Cold Storage fell back as A Perfect Sunday was all out to hold off Spooky Ballet at the wire by a nose. Cold Storage held third three and a half lengths behind the winner.
Race: 3000.0314 QE2 Challenge – Grade I – $500,000
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Turf
Alma (IRE) continued her dominance at this distance with a solid two and a quarter length victory. Alma (IRE) had been running big speed figures recently and did not need that this week to take home the victory. The favorites in this race were in most cases stretching out for the first time and none of them were around in the end.
Alma (IRE) took her usually spot near the back of the pack early. From there she moved up quickly and rolled through the stretch under mild urging as she struck the lead and cruised home. The big race was for the placings as Malpaso, Stormy and Spicy and Red Hill all finished within a quarter length of each other at the wire. Malpaso was second after sitting mid pack in the early stages holding off both Stormy and Spicy and Red Hill in the late stages. Stormy and Spicy was awarded the third in a photo with Red Hill as though two had closed from the back of the pack.
Race: 3000.0313 The LIAR’S POKER Special – Grade I – $500,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: Six furlongs on the Turf
I Make Stuff Up continues to be the strongest three year old turf sprinter. He adds another grade I win to his resume closing from ninth to win by a nose. Northern Chant sprung from the gates and set the pace. He shook clear in the early stages leading by more than two lengths entering the stretch. I Make Stuff Up was ninth in the early stages and made his move in the stretch.
I Make Stuff Up needed the entire stretch but he got there on the wire just nosing out the pace setter Northern Chant. Twice as Hard ran a solid race finishing third. He stalked the early pace and made up a bit of ground in the stretch finishing evenly a length behind the top two.
Race: 3000.7816 Count Fleet – Grade I – $500,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: Six furlongs on the Dirt
Polish Reality was allowed to set an uncontested pace and he made them pay in a big way. Polish Reality had some company in the first quarter but was quickly by himself on the lead. Around the turn for him he picked up the pace taking a commanding four and a half length lead into the stretch. He was never threatened in the stretch winning by a length and a half running in a fast
Carnival of Souls was the only runner making up any serious ground in the late stages of this race. He was mid pack early and made a strong push in the stretch making up four and a half lengths on the winner but it was too little too late. He was a clear second finishing two and a half lengths ahead of third place Act of Brave. Act of Brave closed well from the back of the pace making up six length in the stretch while finishing a non threatening third.
Race: 3000.1216
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 4 year olds
Distance: A mile and one sixteenth on the Turf
Seeking Sal took care of business on his home turf. He stalked the early pace from fifth before moving to engage the leader in mid stretch. Coach Fox was stubborn with the lead but was eventually worn down by Seeking Sal who won by almost two lengths in the end. Coach Fox was a clear second two lengths ahead of third place finisher Eureka Strike who set the pace.
Race: 3000.3716 Oktoberfest – Grade I – $500,000
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and three quarters on the Dirt
Xtremely Gold makes short work of this field and in the process has tied the record for consecutive graded victories. Xtremely Gold was well back early and cruised to the front to win by almost four lengths. There is not another runner of her quality in her division. If she wants some competition she is going to have to cut back in distance.
This Love closed well from the back of the pack to finish second. She was three and a half lengths better than the pace setter Grand Slam Classic who finished third more than seven lengths behind the winner.
Race: 3000.3715 Hofbrauhaus – Grade I – $500,000
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and three quarters on the Dirt
Lost Witness won this grade I affair with a 93-speed figure the only runner in the field above 90. She closed from fifth to win by five and a half lengths over the pace setter Northern Red (AUS). Remember Solaguen closed from last to get third six and a quarter lengths behind the winner.