Big Race Recap 3371
It was a day of upsets and firsts. In the Gold Cup Awegustus earned his first grade one win and it was the same for Bold Peggy. Long shots ruled the day as nineteen to one
Race: 3371.0414 Jockey Guild Gold Cup – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Dirt
Awegustus ran a great race in a pretty good time to spoil Formulated Risk’s attempt at a grade one win. The four year old by Awesome Again ran a big one on Smackdown Day but really broke through today earning his first grade one win. He was mid pack in the early stages of the race and not very far off the early lead only five and a half lengths back. From the midway point he made a nice move on the turn and at the top of the stretch he was neck and neck with Fly Buda for the lead. He took control in the stretch and while there where several runners close none of them where gaining. He stretched his lead with each stride to win by almost three lengths at the wire.
The win gives Awegustus enough points to make the Breeder’s Bowl. Depending on how he came out of the race his connections might be faced with a tough decision. Turn him around on short rest, or pass up a chance to run in the Breeder’s Bowl. He came into this race off two weeks rest and ran a nice race. He went into the Smackdown event off of two weeks rest and ran a career best. He appears capable but a turn around in two more weeks would be his third race in six weeks two at the top level a very tough task indeed.
Formulated Risk ran his race and ran into a runner who had a little more today. Formulated Risk was sitting mid pack early and just behind the winner in the early stages of the race only about five and a half lengths off the pace. He moved up with several others and was just a length behind Awegustus at the top of the stretch. He fought gamely but was not making any ground on the winner. He edged clear of the rest of the field and finished second a length and a half ahead of the third place finisher.
High Otto closed from the back of the pack to nail the third place finish in deep stretch. In the early stages High Otto was dead last twelve and a half lengths off the early pace. He gained a lot of ground going into the turn for home but was still twelfth at the top of the stretch. He passed several horses nailing Fly Buda for third in the last few jumps.
Race: 3371.2815
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf
The shocker of the week was pulled off by the Super Stable’s
Gold Doors is a multiple graded stakes placed runner this year and he hits the board again in a big event. Last time out at two miles Gold Doors ran a nice race in the World Cup to just miss by a half length. Today he was toward the back sitting tenth early on fifteen lengths from the pace setter. He was just in front of
Strong Belwas ran well in an improved effort. He pressed the early pace which turned out to be a bit quick. He took a one length lead into the stretch but ran out of gas a bit in the stretch. He could not fend off the two closers who swooped by him but he was good enough to hold third finishing five and a half lengths behind the winner. With the time he had to take off this summer this race might have done him a lot of good. He ran an improved speed figure in his second start off the layoff and if he goes in the Breeder’s Bowl Turf he could be set for a big performance despite the two week turn around.
Race: 3371.0314 Three Smokestacks Stakes – Grade I – $500,000
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt
It was Bold Peggy that prevailed handily with having to run a huge speed figure. Bold Peggy came into the race off a poor effort in a grade two mile. She got back to a more comfortable distance and ran a very nice race. She had been knocking on the door all summer with three second place finishes in grade two events. Today she was toward the back but not as far off the pace as usual. She was just a little over eight lengths back at the midway point. From there she made a strong move into contention to be fourth at the top of the stretch and powered home in the stretch to win by two and a half lengths. Once they where in the stretch it was clear she was much the best today.
Cat O’ Nine Lives ended her three race win streak by running second today. She was coming off a big win at the World Cup and really off that effort was a little disappointing despite the second place finish. She was further off the pace here than usual. Although stalking and in fourth she was seven lengths off the pace. Normally she is within four lengths and maybe if she had been a bit closer things would have been different. She moved to third on the turn for home but proved to be no match for the winner in the stretch. Maybe she was being saved a bit for a turn around in two weeks for the Breeder’s Bowl.
Pye Are Squared lived up to her live long shot billing by running third. Pye Are Squared was close to the pace early in second a little more than three lengths off the pace setter. She moved up on the turn for home but did not have enough left in the tank to hold off the top two. She stayed on well in the stretch to earn third place three lengths behind the winner.
Race: 3371.0315 Scottsdale BB Stakes – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Kentucky
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: Six furlongs on the Dirt
Long shots rule the day in the Scottsdale as fifteen to one Western Romp Ted just held off eleven to one Act of the Brave at the wire. Western Romp Ted had been running in routes most of the summer. It was not until August he cut back to a seven furlong sprint and found a new level. He won that listed stakes and followed that up with another listed win. He had a solid effort in the World Cup and so he was over looked in this field.
He got a good break and sat just off the early pace. He moved up and took the lead as they entered the stretch and opened up a two and a quarter length lead on the field. He was kept to task and had to be all out as Act of the Brave made a late charge. He just held off Act of the Brave on the wire for his first grade one win. He earned a very good 115 speed figure for his effort in completed in
Act of the Brave closed from dead last and just missed getting his third grade one win. Act of the Brave was a grade one winner at two and just missed in the Breeder’s Bowl Juvenile that year. He was almost nine lengths off the early pace today and found some of that magic. He was an absolute monster in the stretch eating up ground in his charge to the front. He just ran out of ground but a very nice effort.
Grand Arbiter turned in his second strong effort in a row. Last time out he finished second at this level. Grand Arbiter was mid pack early but only three and a half lengths off the pace. He made a move to third at the top of the stretch and was gaining a bit of ground in the stretch but could not make up enough ground to catch the winner. He got caught in the late stages of the race by Act of the Brave and had to settle for third.