Upset in Wild West
Stocking Filler, a 15-1 longshot, shocks the field in the Wild West Dash Stakes this weekend. Stocking Filler ran a gate-to-wire victory, with McCooper aboard, in 1:09 for the 6f event. This was Stocking’s second career stakes (finishing 9th in debut)and was rated at a speed of 110.
Stocking did benefit from a wall of horses that blocked the passage of several late closers. Early on, Stocking went straight to the lead, joined by Friendly War and Gulch Quay ETS. Following them was a wall of horses that included just about everyone.
As the horses came off the turn, and turned for home, Stocking Filler was able to open up a 3 length lead. I See Your Point, benefited by trailing the field early. By trailing the field, Jockey Bates was able to maneuver this 21-1 longshot to the outside and circle around the traffic jam. I See Your Point closed hard and missed taking this by a length.
Ellegy also benefited by trailing early, and followed I See Your Point around the field and settled for the third spot (my second choice).
The Exacta with these two longshots paid $770.90 and the Trivecta lit the board with a $7,324.10 payout.
K’s By the Way was trapped wide in the turn but was able to squeeze through some of the gridlock enabling a 4th place finish.
Wraith Point was also one of the horses in the rear early, and followed both Elegy and I See Your Point around the field to pick up the fifth place check.
Rakharo, the 4-1 favorite, and my top pick, got caught in the traffic jam. Jockey Salamander rode the outside early, then cut to the inside where he spotted an opening, only to see it close up. By the time he got some room on the outside, it was too late, resulting in 6th place finish.
Leader of the Pack finished 7th, became part of the congestion in the turn.
Gulch Quay Ets ran up front early, away from the pack, but simply tired dropping back into 8th.
La Santa Cruz was able to benefit from the inside, and blocked everyones passage up the inside, but he got pinched in and had no where to go and locked in 9th.
Friendly War ran up front early, and it looked like a good spot to be with the congestion behind him. He ran well but tired late finishing 10th.
Slewer, Cinematic, Queen of the Sky, Punch the Money and Terri Irwin were all part of the congested traffic jam and they finished in the rear 11-15th spots respectfully.