Big Race Recap

The early part of the road to the triple crown is playing out in an interesting way. The top fillies look much better than the top boys.  Of course the ladies where running at a bit shorter distance.

Race:  3490.3711 Vermont is 4 Lovers – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Vermont
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt

In a race that saw five horses within a length of each other at the wire long shots ruled the day. The Gun Went Off put his nose down at the wire and earned the win. The Gun Went Off has the pedigree of a derby winner by Mineshaft out of a Danzig mare. The Gun Went Off was second last in the early stages of the race more than thirteen lengths off the early pace. He made up a bit of ground as the field went into the final turn. Once in the stretch there was a cavalry charge to the wire.

Very Funny was just ahead of The Gun Went Off at the back of the field. He has been closing well in nearly all of his races thus far and this past weekend was no different. He made up some ground on the turn but really exploded in the stretch joining the cavalry charge.

Breeder’s Bowl winner Fleet Daisy was not aware of his long shot status in this race. He was mid pack in the early stages just less than nine lengths from the early pace. At the half mile pole he moved into fourth position and was gaining ground as they entered the stretch Fleet Daisy was leading the cavalry charge to the wire.

The early speed was failing and Fleet Daisy was full of run. Behind him there where five other horses charging toward the wire. Fleet Daisy took a short lead in deep stretch. The Gun Went Off and Very Funny where closing the fastest and caught Fleet Daisy in the final jumps of the wire. While Very Funny held a half length to a quarter of a length advantage over The Gun Went Off for most of the race it was not enough in the end. The Gun Went Off did not hit the lead until he reached the wire with the top three runners separated by a half length. The Gun Went Off won by a nose over Very Funny and Fleet Daisy had to settle for third.

Race: 3490.3709 Vermont is 4 Lovers – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Vermont
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one sixteenth on the Dirt

Nehi Orange proved the old adage that speed kills as she wins her second straight grade one race in a row. She had shown very good speed and the ability to hold it over a route of ground with wire to wire wins. She was a bit of an outsider here but there was not a lot of speed to contend with. None the less when the gates opened she had company as Mean Girl seemed to change her tactics a bit and press the pace.

While she did have company Nehi Orange was relaxed out front. At the half mile pole she stepped it up and bit. She scooted clear by more than two lengths as the rounded the turn into the stretch. She was kept to task keeping a clear lead the entire length of the stretch. She was never really threatened in the stretch winning by a length and a half over the race favorite Black Flag Flying.

Black Flag Flying had the target on her back entering the race as the favorite. She was coming off four straight wins that included a pair of graded stakes. She had been winning them fairly easily. She had not faced a front runner like Nehi Orange before. Instead of being her customary six to eight lengths off the pace she was more than nine lengths off the early pace. That little extra distance was the difference in the race. She was toward the back of the pack early and moved through traffic on the turn for home while not really gaining on the winner very much. When she entered the stretch she was fill of run making up six lengths on the winner. It was just too little too late for her today. None the less a good run a these two fillies could provide some entertaining races on the Oaks trail.

Porn Starr continued her interesting form while finishing third. She has been on the pace and come from way off the pace in her previous races. This time she took up a stalking position about six lengths off the early pace. She was sitting fourth so was in a good striking position. She failed to make up any ground on the winner from the half mile pole to the stretch and that hurt. Once in the stretch she was able to gain some ground but not enough to threaten or hold off the closing Black Flag Flying. She settled for a solid third and looks like she can run a route of ground.