Big Race Recap 3329
While the favorites did not dominate there where few surprises this past weekend. The Shining took down the top two in the Maudlin Cup, while High Ransom proved she is a top turf filly. In the two year old race Appeal This looked very impressive on her way to a gate to wire win.
Race: 3329.3515 Maudlin Cup – Grade I – $450,000
Track: Longchamp
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: One mile on the Turf
The Shining held off a strong bid from one of the favorites Sadler Keeper in a thrilling finish. When the gates opened The Shining got away well and took up a stalking position five lengths off the early pace. There where three runners ahead of him and at the half mile pole he started to move forward towards the pace setter.
Sadler Keeper got away better than usual and the pace was not a fast one. He was sixth early and only a little more than six lengths off the early pace. He was a couple of lengths closer to the pace than he had been in recent races. He was a length behind The Shining at the half mile pole and moved into contention just behind The Shining heading into the stretch.
At the top of the stretch The Shining was two lengths off the lead but closing. The favorite in the race Deputation seemed poised to take the race as he was taking the lead. The Shining though had momentum and kept chugging away. Sadler Keeper too was gaining ground and as we got to deep stretch The Shining had grabbed the lead with Sadler Keeper bearing down on him. Those two edged away from the rest of the field in the stretch and battled to the wire with The Shining just hanging on by a quarter of a length. Sadler Keeper had to settle for second with Shouldn’t Matter getting up for third two and a half lengths back.
Race: 3329.0414 Princess Di Cap – Grade I – $500,000
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Turf
High Ransom answers the question, yes she is for real. This mare has just found her form and at the right time of year. She has now won back to back grade one events now and the Princess Di Cap here was a very impressive win. She stalked from fifth position in the early stages of the race moved up to the pace setters quickly and took the lead in early stretch pulling away to a two length victory. She was very professional in her run earning a 115 speed figure. She has now proven to be great at a mile and an eighth and a mile and three sixteenths but she will have a decision to make her connections are looking forward to the Breeder’s Bowl. Will she run at a mile and three eighths or cut back to a mile taking on the boys.
Red Royal ran the race of her life and had to settle for second. Red Royal recently exited the allowance conditions and stepped up to stakes company. She responded well running some nice speed figures winning a listed stakes then stepped up and won a grade three stakes. Since then she has been competing a the top level and came through with a good effort today. She was mid pack only five lengths off the pace in the early stages. She made a good move to get into contention at the top of the stretch but could not make up enough ground in the stretch to threaten the winner. As you look ahead to the Breeder’s Bowl Filly and Mare Distaff Red Royal here is another runner that seems ill suited for the increased distance.
Bad Scene ran a good one pressing then setting the pace in this event. This filly is a good front runner who has a grade three win under her belt. She ran into a couple of runners this week that ran lights out. While she was fading in the stretch it was not from a lack of effort. She pressed still after being passed holding onto third. She is a filly you probably will not see in the Breeder’s Bowl Turf Distaff as she does not appear to run as well at the longer distance.
Race: 3329.0415 Getaway Stakes – Grade I – $400,000
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 2 years old
Distance: Seven furlongs on the Dirt
Appeal This flashed her speed and with her experience never looked back. Breaking from the far outside post Appeal This fired out of the gates and grabbed the lead. She opened more than two lengths on the field at the top of the stretch and coasted home to a length and a quarter victory. The win should get Appeal This into the Breeder’s Bowl Juvenile Filly race. The timing could be good for her if she can turn around and run again on four weeks rest. Then the Breeder’s Bowl would be four weeks after that. That could be tough for a two year old to do and could also take something out of her in the process. She could probably train up to the Breeder’s Bowl but then you are asking her to run her best against the best off a little bit of a layoff.
Clear the Lead finished second as she stepped up in class. Clear the Lead was toward the back early but was not far off the early pace. She was just under five lengths back and moved forward as the field rounded for home. She was fourth at the top of the stretch and dug in gaining ground all the way to the wire finishing second a length and a quarter behind the winner.
Dreamy Cat followed up her grade three win with a nice third place finish in a grade one. She has the pedigree of a runner that will appreciate more distance as she gets older. In this race she was second last early seven lengths off the pace. She moved around the turn and closed well in the stretch to just missing the place. She came to Clear the Lead but it was too late to catch her for second so she had to settle for third a length and a half behind the winner.