The Green Felt Wins Mansur LeRoys Handicap
Today in California we witnessed the running of the mile and one sixteenth Mansur LeRoys Handicap. The nine contenders loaded easily into the starting gate, poised to launch out of the gate when the bell sounded.
Out to an early lead in the race by two and a half lengths was sdmf7 owned Damnation, leading Dornish March, trained by jonsnow2, in second. Five and one-fourth lengths back in third was Tell Me When To Go, owned and trained by romeshome. Running along in fourth and fifth were Nagasaki (IRE) and Chain Reaction, trained and owned by casino and zonabear respectively. Breaking last out of the gate and back by eight and one-fourth lengths was sdmf5 trained Death Alley Driver.
Damnation lengthened his lead to three and a half lengths over Dornish March, still in second. Moving up into third place was Nagasaki (IRE) with Tell Me When To Go dropping back into fourth. Chain Reaction still continued to run in fifth just off the pace. Death Alley Driver continued to trail the pack, now back by twelve and three-fourths lengths.
Coming into the turn it was Dornish March who had the lead by a narrow head over former front-runner Damnation. Nagasaki (IRE) continued to run on in third, with seven year old veteran racehorse Journeyman, owned by kiri making a big move on the inside and rocketing up into fourth. Coming up behind in fifth was talented trained The Green Felt. Dropping out of the race into sixth was Tell Me When To Go with Chain Reaction totally spent and dropping to seventh. Death Alley Driver was beginning to gain some ground and was now in eighth passing by resting trained Bird Of Paradise, ten and one half lengths back as the field came for home.
The nine horse field came charging at the wire and it was late-runner The Green Felt, owned by talented with jockey M. Billig riding to pass under the wire first just one-fourth length ahead of veteran Journeyman. Nagasaki (IRE) finished third.
Also rans include: Dornish March, Tell Me When To Go, Damnation, Death Alley Driver, Bird Of Paradise, and Chain Reaction.