Chango Rojo takes The PROSPECT WALTER Handicap
After storms and tornadoes blew through Tennessee yesterday, the winds helped to dry out the track for today’s stakes race – The PROSPECT WALTER Handicap. But it wasn’t just the storms that would cause a stir this weekend as the long shot in today’s field, Chango Rojo, seemed to come from out of nowhere to pour on the speed and capture his third straight win in a row. Let’s take a look and see how the race panned out. My Blue Heaven took the early lead and by the first call was only 3/4 of a length in front of Tizona. It was a length more back to Kid Vitek. Irish Quest and Hate the Drake were running nose to nose only a quarter of a length behind Kid Vitek in fourth and fifth and just another quarter of a length behind them in sixth was the favorite Nuclear Toy. Another length and a half back was Turko’s Ghost in seventh. Tyran the Hulk was in eighth, five and a half lengths off the lead and only a quarter of a length behind him was Chango Rojo in last. At the halfway point My Blue Heaven had increased his lead to one and a half lengths. Tizona still held onto second. Hate the Drake had moved up into third while Irish Quest still sat in fourth. Kid Vitek had dropped back into fifth, Nuclear Toy still ran in sixth as Turko’s Ghost stayed put in seventh. Chango Rojo had moved up into eighth but was eight and a quarter lengths off the lead. Tyran the Hulk fell back into ninth where he would remain for the rest of the race. At the third call it was still My Blue Heaven in the lead by one and a half lengths. Hate the Drake had moved up into second and Turko’s Ghost had taken over third. Irish Quest remained in fourth and Tizona had dropped back into fifth. Nuclear Toy just couldn’t seem to get it together and remained in sixth where he would finish the race. Chango Rojo was running in seventh but was beginning to make his move. Kid Vitek had fallen back to eighth and would finish the race there and Tyran the Hulk trailed the pack twelve and a quarter lengths off the lead. At the wire it was all Chango Rojo who finished a good two lengths ahead of the rest of the field. Hate the Drake held onto second with Turko’s Ghost only a quarter of a length behind him in third. My Blue Heaven finished another length and a half behind in fourth and Irish Quest in fifth. Nuclear Toy remained in sixth and Tizona had dropped back to finish in seventh. Kid Vitek finished in eighth and Tyran the Hulk finished last eighteen and a quarter lengths off the lead. So, there it is. Chango Rojo who started the race in last and sat way back in the field for most of the race, pulled a speed of 105 to make a late drive to the wire to take home the win. He broke the race record of 1:55 by 1/5 of a second with his time of 1:54 4/5. And, with that win I’m back to my losing streak of predicting winners. Hey, at least I got third right…. Congratulations to blackswan8 and Chango Rojo for their win here today. Have a great weekend everyone and see you at the tracks next week.