Incinerator burns it up in Air Moe(IRE) Stakes
Incinerator notched his third stakes victory in his last five starts by capturing this week’s Air Moe(IRE) Stakes on the soft track in Virginia this week. This brings him to seven victories in fourteen career starts, and propels him to 22nd in the three year old turf classic division standings. The $30000 paycheck also pushed him up to $220755 in career earnings. It also helped his quest for the Breeder’s Bowl if that is the direction he is headed, putting him right on the entry cusp for the big day.
Bluff The Bride claimed the early lead from the gate, pushing out front to one and a quarter lengths by first call. Incinerator settled in just off his back and bided his time. By the halfway mark, though, it was obvious that Bluff The Bride had had about all he could handle though, and he became to fade rapidly. Incinerator breezed by just past the half in to a lead that he wouldn’t relinquish. By the top of the stretch he had padded his lead to just over three lengths, and at the wire, he had a generous four and a quarter length cushion for the win. King’s Gift(IRE) made a game effort to keep this one close, giving up ground to the leader only reluctantly, but not having enough to close late on the spongy surface. He settled for the second spot. Bluff The Bride dropped quickly after the half, holding on to the third pace, but finding himself twenty four and a quarter out at the wire.