Vouvray takes the honors in Hard Gulch Memorial

Four horses out of seven ran career best speeds, but it was race favorite Vouvray that brought home the prize in this week’s Hard Gulch Memorial. The five year old mare went home with her fourth straight stakes victory, posting a career best 108.3 speed figure in the process. This was her eight stakes win overall in her twenty five race career, and boosted her career earnings to the $475800 mark. The stakes victory also bolstered her divisional ranking, as she creeps toward the top ten, moving her from a 16 to 13 ranking within the Long Turf Division. Oddsmakers called the trifecta right down the line in this one, with no surprises, and payouts at the betting window reflect this fact. The winner paid $4.80 $3.10 $2.10 across the board. Exotics were modest, at best, paying $15.30 in the exacta and $57.90 in the trifecta.

The break from the gate was tight in this one, with Salfly’s Spur(AUS) breaking out on top, shadowed closely by Vouvray, with Otto Platinum and Iambe(IRE) stalking from just off the pace. Salfly’s Spur(AUS) just couldn’t shake the pressing Vouvray, managing only a three quarter length cushion at the first call, which she still held at the half. As they crossed the half, the early energy expenditure began to take its toll on Salfly’s Spur(AUS), allowing Vouray to surge past and open up the biggest lead anyone saw in the race, two and three quarters lengths at third call. Otto Platinum was running hard, making up a little ground down the stretch, but not nearly enough. As they crossed the wire, it was Vouvray by that same two and a quarter she had at third call, followed home by Otto Platinum. Salfly’s Spur(AUS) was fading rapidly down the stretch, but held on the grab thrid place, eight lengths out at the wire.