Big Race Recap 3336
This was not a good day for the favorites. Most of the races where won by long shots as a couple of three year olds really blossomed. Galactic Bomber and Skullcrusher really shined this weekend against older runners. There where many Breeder’s Bowl plans being made after this weeks race, lets get to the action.
Race: 3336.0414 Man Of War Stakes – Grade I – $500,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and three eighths on the Turf
Galactic Bomber did his best shock and awe impersonation while winning the Man of War Stakes by more than two lengths at sixteen to one. This three year old has been very solid this year. He ripped off four straight listed stakes wins before finishing third in the Derby de English. He had a couple of in the money finishes over the summer but really blossomed before our very eyes this past weekend. Gallactic Bomber is by sprint champion Orientate but his dam was graded placed on the turf.
Galactic Bomber was mid pack early right at ten lengths off the early pace. He was behind the top two favorites but full of run for the stretch. He had passed Freeze by the time they hit the stretch and was just under five lengths behind Another Tenpin Tap. He was flying late eating up large chunks of ground catching Another Tenpin Tap late and drawing off by two at the wire.
Another Tenpin Tap ran a very nice race. This was his third second place finish in row, all of those races have been at the grade one level. He stalked the early pace from third and took control of the race around the turn for home. He was steady through the stretch but got run down by the long shot. That has now happened to him twice in a row.
The favorite in the race was Freeze. He just did not turn in one of his best efforts. He seemed to race evenly the whole way around and that was good enough to finish third six and a quarter lengths behind the winner. He was sixth early more than eight lengths off the pace made a mild bid around the turn and ran evenly in the stretch. With the added stakes points, he should make the field for the Breeder’s Bowl at the end of October. He will need to step it up a notch if he wants to be considered a top contender for that race.
Race: 3336.2814
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: One mile on the Turf
Long shot Wars of Empire ran lights out at odds of seventeen to one holding off the late flying Hail Cesario for second. This was his second really nice speed figure in a row at a mile so now you have to consider him a legitimate grade stakes miler. He has found that next level and this was his first attempt at the graded level. He was mid pack early but less than five lengths off the pace. He moved up on the turn and continued to make up ground on the winner in the stretch it was just too little too late.
Hail Cesario runs another big number but gets beat by runners sitting closer to the pace. Normally he is ten plus lengths off the early pace but today he was only nine and a half lengths back. He made his way through traffic from the half mile pole but by the time he got clear he was still almost eight lengths behind the pace setter at the top of the stretch. He made up several lengths closing to within two lengths of the winner at the wire.
Race: 3336.0114 Demona Handicap – Grade I – $450,000
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Turf
Keeping with the trend of the day Skullcrusher delivered a dominating performance while winning the Demona by two and a half lengths at odds of thirteen to one. This was another blossoming of a three year old. Skullcusher had been coming along very nicely over the spring and summer. She won a couple of conditioned allowances and then added a listed stakes win. She had a down race last time out could have been the slightly longer distance.
She put everything together last weekend. Skullcrusher was third early a little more than five lengths off the early pace. She moved quickly to assume the lead around the turn for home taking a two length lead into the stretch. She would never be threatened maintaining that lead through out the stretch to win by two and a half lengths at the wire.
Change My Mind ran a nice race to finish second. She was well respected by the betters at five to one and did not disappoint. She was dead last early more than ten lengths off the early pace. She made a big move on the turn to get within four and a half lengths of the leader but could not gain as much ground as Skullcursher took over. She would make steady progress finishing two and a half lengths behind the winner.
One of the favorites was Meatball Hero. Meatball Hero was coming off of longer races. She put in a good big she was just running into a hot horse. Meatball Hero was fourth in the early stages of the race. She moved to third and was only a couple of lengths back but she could not match strides with Skullcrusher in the stretch. She lost ground in the stretch but held third finishing five and a half lengths behind the winner.
It is difficult to tell if any of the top three runners here will be able to make an impact in the Breeder’s Bowl Turf Distaff.
Race: 3336.2915 Tri-City Sprint – Grade I – $500,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: Six and one half furlongs on the Dirt
Another double digit odds horse turned up a winner as In a Simple Rhyme took the
Ab Fab is getting back on track with a good effort here. He is the top ranked sprinter and looked sharp early in this race. He made a good move through the stretch going from eighth to second. It was not an all out effort but he looks as though he is gearing up for the Breeder’s Bowl. He should be cranked and ready but the looks of things but he better be prepared to run a 115+ or he will not have such a good day at the end of October.
Proud and Bold picked up some pieces in the stretch to finish third. Proud and Bold was mid pack early in the race four and a half lengths off the early pace. He was still mid pack at the top of the stretch when In a Simple Rhyme took over. He persevered although not gaining any ground he was picking off the failing speed. He picked his was to a third place finish four and a half lengths behind the winner.
Race: 3336.5915 High Flyer Stakes – Grade I – $400,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 2 years old
Distance: One mile on the Turf
Curious Candy caps off the day another ten to one long shot winning a grade one this week. Curious Candy showed very nice improvement off an allowance win back in July. That allowance win speed figure was not spectacular but he did not need to go fast that day. This win will carry him to the Breeder’s Bowl Turf Juvenile as he is now the number one ranked horse in that division. He was stalking the early pace from fifth although he was right on the pace with several others. He took over at the top of the stretch edging away to a length and three quarter win.
The Stardust got the lead just like he had done last time out but this time he got a little pressure. He failed to back up his last race speed figure while also failing to hold off Curious Candy in the stretch. Still he was solid through the stretch finishing second by a length. The Stardust solidified his status as a runner in the Breeder’s Bowl as he is now the second ranked two year old in this division.
Raging Menace scores one for the little guys finishing third. Raging Menace is a