Big Race Recap 3511
Max California stepped up in the Turf Division while the dirt handicap division stays as hard to figure out as ever. Max had a pretty solid performance and looks like he will be a player this year in that division. Gracepoint Prayer takes the California Handicap but that only seems to muddy the dirt handicap division. What has happened to the California Oaks. Last year was the slowest running ever and this year was the second slowest. While the dirt route three year old fillies seemed to struggle three year old turf fillies shined a bit and three year old colts sprinting produced some fast speed figures.
Race: 3511.5315 John Scott Appreciation Stakes – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf
Max California takes a big step forward crushing a talented field of runners. Max showed flashes as a three year old and looks to have arrived now at four. He changed his running style a bit in this race and it paid off in a big way. Instead of being mid pack or further off the pace he was in second less than five lengths back. When asked he tackled the pace setter and expanded his lead. He entered the top of the stretch with a length and a half cushion and drew away in the stretch. He cruised home much the best winning by nearly five lengths.
The race for second turned out to be the best contest in this race. Long shots Questing Beast and Crimson Sky had to be sorted out by a photo to determine the second place horse. Questing Beast was mid pack a little more than ten lengths off the pace while Crimson Sky was a little further back from the pace sitting twelve lengths back. Both runners moved up when asked and took up the chase around the turn for home.
As Questing Beast was entering the stretch he was six and a half lengths off the pace and gaining ground. Crimson Sky was just under eight lengths back and also gaining ground. Neither horse would threaten the winner but Crimson Sky would pick up the pace a little more in the stretch. Crimson Sky closed the gap between he and Questing Beast with every stride. In the final strides to the wire Crimson Sky got his nose down to get the nod for second. Questing Beast had to settle for third.
Race: 3511.0114
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Dirt
Gracepoint Prayer runs a career best is a bit of an up set in sunny
Mambo Bones has his unlucky streak continue. When he runs really well he always seems to run up against a runner that just has more. Today he had a strong pace to run at from well off the pace. He was next to last almost fourteen lengths off the pace. He would charge hard closing a ton of ground but today he ran into a horse that was just a little better. He would finish second two and a half lengths from the winner.
Malachi Constant ran a solid race to finish third. He ran a career best speed figure and it was only good enough for third. He really did run a solid race however the winner ran so well it is hard to tell. Not to belittle his performance but when you look up picking up the pieces in the dictionary there will be a picture of Malachi Constant’s race here today. He was towards the back of the pack early on in the race. He kicked home pretty well and just kept passing tiring horses. He finished third a little more than three lengths behind the winner.
Race: 3511.0115
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one sixteenth on the Dirt
I am not sure what to make of this race. The field had quite a bit of quality in it yet the winner did not run a real fast speed figure. The winner’s speed figure was solid but below what you would expect in a grade one this time of year. This was the second slowest running of the California Oaks only last year’s edition was run in a slower time.
Rattyburg was the lady that stepped up when no one else seemed capable. She was toward the back of the pack in the early stages although she was not very far off the pace. While she was eleventh she was only five lengths off the pace. The field was tightly bunched through most of the race. At the top of the stretch Rattyburg was still seventh but was only a couple of lengths off the pace. Rattyburg had the most momentum and carried that all the way to the wire. She pulled away in the end to win by two lengths.
Dreamy Cat was mid pack in the early stages but only three lengths off the pace in this tightly packed field. She did not move up place wise but was less than two lengths off the pace at the top of the stretch. Dreamy Cat had some left in the tank and persevered in the stretch to earn second.
Die Verwandlung pressed the early pace in the race. The pace was not much and Verwandlung had some kick left in the stretch. She took over the pace setting duties as the runners turned for home. She had a half length lead but could not hold off the top two. She had to settle for third.
Nehi Orange the number one filly ran a horrible race finishing in eighth place. This division looks very wide open.
Race: 3511.3216 The
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: One mile on the Turf
True Chant outlasted the closing The Dark Mark to earn a grade one victory. The outside posts where the place to be as True Chant broke from post fourteen. She used her tactical speed to grab a stalking position less than three lengths from the pace setter. She made her move on the turn and as they entered the stretch she was just three quarters of a length behind the pace setter. She took control shortly after that and powered toward the wire.
The Dark Mark broke from post thirteen. She sat near the back of the pack but was not too far off the pace less than eight lengths back. She passed several runners on the turn for home and entering the stretch she had four lengths to still make up on the leaders. The Dark Mark kicked it into high gear and started eating up ground quickly. True Chant was all out in the final stages to hold on for a three quarter length win over The Dark Mark.
Gypsy Tears broke from post seventeen. From there fell in line about mid pack a little more than four lengths off the early pace. She made a mild bid on the turn and kept pace with the winner in the stretch. She was just unable to make up any ground and passed tiring rivals to finish third.
Race: 3511.4416 The Ring Of Fire Special – Grade I – $500,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: Seven furlongs on the Dirt
On paper this one looked like a two horse race but in reality De Fu ran a big one out dueling the top two to the wire. De Fu was cutting back in distance after several attempts in route races. After running solid races in route race the drop back in distance was just what the doctor ordered. De Fu pressed the early pace taking over around the turn for home. Once on the lead and in the stretch De Fu was not going to be passed. He extended his lead to almost two lengths and was really not threatened as he cruised to a length and a half win.
Folsom Blues ran another big race in his very young career. In just four career races he already has two 100+ speed figures. His unbeaten streak comes to an end as his deep closing style finally caught up with him. Folsom was twelve lengths off the early pace which is a whole to have to make up in a sprint. He would fire in the stretch but he was still nine lengths back at that point. He closed very fast getting to within a length and a half at the wire setting for second.
Procedure ended up running evenly in the race. He found himself in a stalking position but was further off the pace than he usually ends up. He moved up a bit around the turn for home but could not continue that momentum into the stretch. He did not lose ground in the stretch finishing four lengths behind the winner.