Big Race Recaps 3322
Upsets where on the agenda this week as no favorites won. We had mild upsets in the Travelers, Del Webb and Prince’s Knight stakes. King of the Wind was the most surprising winner this week taking down Ermington Pegasus in the CA Classic.
Race: 3322.0415 Travelers Stakes – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Dirt
Passing Stone breaks through in a three year old classic. Passing Stone was undefeated going into the Bluegrass Derby back in May and just missed winning the
Taking advantage of the fact there was not a strong pace horse and nearly all the contenders where closers Passing Stone stalked patiently in third. He was only two lengths of the early pace. He moved up and assumed the lead around the turn and took a short lead into the stretch. From there it was only a matter of holding off the closers as he quickly put away the pace setters. Passing Stone was plenty strong in the stretch never being seriously threatened once he got to the lead. He would go on to win by two and a quarter lengths over Awesome Force.
Awesome Force ran his race but today there was a stalker in the field capable of running well in the stretch. In the early stages Awesome Force was second last and more than sixteen lengths off the early pace. He would only make up about five lengths before entering the stretch and that left him too much to do in the run for home. Still he closed from eleven and three quarter lengths to two and a quarter lengths in that stretch run. He just got by Peppet in on the wire to take second.
Peppet was mid pack early about eight lengths off that early pace. He moved up through the field and was fourth entering the stretch five and a half lengths from Passing Stone. He made up some ground but not fast enough to catch Passing Stone. He was beaten in deep, deep stretch for the place by the fast closing Awesome Force. Peppet settled for third two and three quarter lengths behind the winner.
Race: 3322.0114 CA Classic – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Dirt
King of the Wind records one of the biggest upsets of the year. This is a horse that thirty-four races into his career he was not a stakes winner. He had won several allowances, placed in a couple of graded races and recently had run some mid 100 speed figures. In his thirty-fifth career start he runs the best speed figure of his life, 114, won his first stakes race which is also his first graded stakes win, while defeating six time grade one winner Ermington Pegasus.
King of the Wind was coming off a nice third place finish in the Movieland Shiny Cup. He finished a mere half length behind Ermington Pegasus then. Today he took advantage of not a lot of pace. King of the Wind was comfortable in second sitting five lengths behind the filly Otto History who shook loose early. The filly wore herself out and King of the Wind was first in line to pick up the pieces. At the top of the stretch Otto History was done, King of the Wind kicked home strongly. He maintained a good pace in the stretch and won by three easy lengths.
Mambo Bones targeted Ermington Pegasus. He shadowed Ermington Pegasus the whole race making his move in tandem with Ermington Pegasus. Pegasus just did not have that little extra and Mambo Bones did. Mambo closed very well but never threatened the winner as he crossed the line for second. Ermington Pegasus did not fire that huge race but he runs another very honest effort finishing third four and three quarter lengths from the winner.
Race: 3322.0115 Del Webb Oaks – Grade I – $350,000
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Turf
Culinary Cutie showed a new dimension with a mild upset in the Del Webb. Culinary Cutie has displayed speed in most of her starts and had set the pace in her last three races coming into this event. Saturday though she was two lengths off the pace in sixth position. Last time she was off the pace she did not respond but this time she responded in a big way. She stalked that early pace, pounced on it around the turn for home taking a short lead at the top of the stretch. From there she powered home with a huge effort winning by three and a quarter lengths.
Desert Alley turned in a strong closing effort to get up for second. Desert Alley was a listed stakes winner back in January and won at the Smackdown at little longer distance last time out. So it really was not huge surprise to see her streaking through the stretch. She was near the back of the pack eleven lengths off the pace. Form there she closed strongly to finish second.
Kneel Before Zod closed from dead last to finish third. This distance just might be a little too short for Zod’s best efforts. She was coming out of a great effort at a mile and a half. Here she was just too far off the early pace to make a serious impact in the stretch. She closed very well although she never threatened the winner.
Race: 3322.1015 Prince’s Knight Stakes – Grade I – $300,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: Seven furlongs on the Dirt
Power is Rising rose to the occasion with a great ride from his jockey taking down the favorite Mad Dropper. Power Rising was mid pack early and not too far off the early pace. He was just a little less than five lengths off the early pace. He moved up around the turn and was just fourth a little more than two lengths off the leaders entering the stretch. He set down for the drive getting by the pace setters in mid stretch and holding off the closing Mad Dropper to win by a length and a quarter.
Mad Dropper was further back in the field than usual. In his recent wins he as a couple of lengths closer to the pace but on Saturday he was more than seven lengths off the early pace and near the back. He did not move up position wise but made up several lengths entering the stretch. He closed very well passing all but one to earn second.
High Heart has recently found very good form and turned in another good performance placing in this grade I stakes. He was mid pack early about five lengths off the pace. He was outside runners and closed steadily through the stretch getting caught late for the place. He finished third a length and a half behind the winner.