“Bluer Than Velvet Special” Stake Recap

                In my race preview, I wondered if anybody in this field would be able to challenge Seattle Peace for the early lead. Well my question was answered as soon as the gate opened. Trainer Dilaika’s Ephalba, showing early speed for the first time in her young career, not only challenged  Tejanoroy’s Seattle Peace but Ephalba was able grab the early and never look back, to annex her first career Stakes victory. The daughter of Storm Boot is now undefeated in all four of her starts and will no doubt be looking for bigger challenges in the future!

                After a clean start, Ephalba raced to the early lead, “hotly” contested by Seattle Peace and Bigsky5’s Montana Prize. At the quarter pole, only their heads separated the three leaders with Thedud’s High Class Girl trailing, but she was only a length behind the three leaders. As they hit the head of the stretch, it was obvious this wasn’t Seattle Peace’s day as she began to hang and lug out, the leader Ephalba was beginning to inch away from Montana Prize, who was doggedly trying to hang on and High Class Girl who was trying to rally, but with no avail. At the wire there was little doubt who was best this day as Ephalba was slowly drawing away from, a game but beaten, Montana Prize.

CHART NOTES:

1.)    Ephalba … Surged to early lead, challenged throughout, drew away in deep stretch.

2.)    Montana Prize … Good early position, threatened leader, hung on determinedly for place.

3.)    Seattle Peace … Pressured leader thru three furlongs, gradual fade in stretch.

4.)    High Class Girl …Trailed, but never far back, no response in stretch.