Reefer Madness Upsets in Sabian Handicap

The fifteenth race on the card this Saturday in Norway was the Sabian Handicap for fillies three years old and up. The track received torrential rain earlier in the week with a relatively dry remainder of the week. However, with mostly overcast weather for that remaining part of the week, the track was only upgraded to good before post time. The full field of fourteen made their way uneventfully towards to start gates and all loaded easily into the gates as they waited for the grueling mile and one sixteenth race to begin.

When the bell sounded and the gates crashed open and the fourteen Thoroughbreds charged out onto the track it was spacerace trained Ahead who went out to an early lead of one and one-fourth length over Distant Shade, owned by twister. Right with her was Queen Edna (ENG), owned and trained by jacmac. Running along in fourth and fifth was Segura and Black Wood Nymph, who were trained and owned by donosti and ozzy, respectively. Four and a half lengths back in sixth was fiat trained Buda At The Rodeo with You Thought Wrong, owned by super19, right alongside. Breaking last out of the gate was pre-race favorite, pirates owned Ma’adim Vallis (GB) who was seeming to have a tough time handling the off track on which she was running for the first time in her racing career.

Ahead then increased her lead to one and three-fourth lengths over Distant Shade. Queen Edna (ENG) was still running in third with Segura and Black Wood Nymph still battling it out for fourth and fifth. Reefer Madness, owned by super24 was running on the outside in eighth with Rakharo, owned by salamander about a length behind. Early Spring, trained by mattress was beginning to drop back early on and was now in tenth with Winning Season, trained by cdragon in eleventh. Holding onto twelfth was jimdscott owned and trained Reno with Druj Needs A Hero (SWE), owned by wisbyzews, in thirteenth. Still trailing the field was favorite Ma’adim Vallis (GB).

As the field came into he final turn Ahead still hunt onto the lead by one and one-fourth lengths with Distant Shade in second and Queen Edna (ENG) still defending her position in third. Reefer Madness was going around horses on the outside and moving forward like a rocket and was gaining in fourth, passing by Segura who was fading. Also beginning to make a move on the outside was You Thought Wrong, passing by Buda At The Rodeo. Also making a gradual move forward was Rakharo. Fading far back into ninth and seemingly out of the race was Black Wood Nymph with Early Spring still holding onto tenth. Moving forward slightly was Druj Needs A Hero (SWE) with Winning Season falling back into twelfth. Making little progress was Reno and favorite Ma’adim Vallis (GB) trailed the field as they came for home by fourteen lengths.

Ahead still led the field but was being quickly gained on by Reefer Madness and Rakharo, with You Thought Wrong just behind them. Reefer Madness easily overtook the tiring pacesetter Ahead and went on to be the first at the wire by one and three-fourth lengths with a speed figure of one hundred eleven under jockey B. Todd. Getting up into second was Rakharo with You Thought Wrong another length back.

Also rans: Distant Shade, Ahead, Buda At The Rodeo, Druj Needs A Hero (SWE), Queen Edna (ENG), Segura, Reno, Early Spring, Winning Season, Black Wood Nymph and Ma’adim Vallis (GB).