If You Dare Upstages Older Stars
The new kid has arrived on the block. The Bigbad Rabbit Bonanza looked to be an exciting battle between a field of evenly matched contenders, but by the time the race had finished, one young up and comer had established himself as far superior on the day. Despite facing a field of experienced, talented horses for the first time, three year old If You Dare didn’t just win, but comprehensively dispatched the field and left no doubt that he’ll be a force to be reckoned with in anything the stable connections chose to contest.
Winning Mission clearly won the jump from 13, with Power Fleet also smartly away from 5. Hope For The Ark moved quickly across from the outside to get a handy spot alongside Don Pedro, beautifully positioned on the rail behind the leaders. The bulk of the field formed a bunch a further length or so astern, Power Fleet, Pray For Ransom, Getty Up Go, Pacific Avenue, Ringside Vim and Alastor stepping on each other’s toes. Saving early energy were the four horses which would eventually share the spoils, I’m In Debt, Randy Kransky, If You Dare and Barb’s Adventure.
For the next half mile the running order remained basically unchanged until Pray For Ransom and Getty up Go were first to make their moves. Winning Mission had set up a handy break, but it was clear that the swoopers were going to feature as a wave of horses closed in approaching the bend. Hope For the Ark and Power Fleet quickly threw in the towel as the backmarkers loomed. By the time they straightened only the minor spoils were in question. If You Dare had burst from the pack and was flying, with only I’m in Debt looking to have any hope of keeping with him. Getty Up Go was hanging on stoutly, in a battle with Randy Kransky and Barb’s Adventure for the final spot on the podium.
To the wire and If You Dare had cruised to the line with two and a half lengths to spare. I’m in Debt had run another brave race to add yet another black type minor finish to his impressive but frustrating CV. Barb’s Adventure finished best of the rest a couple further back and Randy Kransky completed the first four for the backmarkers.
Getty Up Go never stopped trying and took home the last check.
Pray For Ransom ran an honest race and was unfortunate to go home empty handed.
Ringside Vim and Alastor never got warm
The first five runners at the first call, Winning Mission, Don Pedro, Hope For The Ark, Power Fleet and Tyran The Hulk faded to bring up the rear .
If You Dare is a three year old scratchbred son of Touch Gold / Unbridled / Alydar. This was his fourth win from eleven starts and lifts his earnings above $190,000. He ran the ten furlongs in 2.01.0 and returned a speed rating of 109. Previous ranked # 60 in his division, this win elevates him to # 48.
Bigmoose3 is a relatively new stable, part of the 19 barn Squirrel establishment. If You Dare is currently the stable’s leading earner, while three year old