Big Race Recap 3553

Roman Plutonium redeemed himself, Tap Dances dazzles in Arkansas, and Lucky’s Mash earns his way to the Bluegrass Derby. Sisson’s Mark looked good earning her way to the Bluegrass Oaks beating horse she will likely face there and Crimson Sky looked dominating at fourteen furlongs on the turf earning his first grade one win.

Race: 3553.0315 Corkscrew Stakes — Derby Lock Prep – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Kentucky
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt

Roman Plutonium made up for his horrible performance in the Florida Derby taking control of the race in the stretch and never looking back. Roman Plutonium has run well in all of his races. His only dismal effort came two starts back in the Florida Derby where he was eleventh beaten by almost thirteen lengths. He bounced back in a big way last weekend. He pressed the early pace always with half a length of the pace setter. At the half way point he moved up and took control. He carried a two length lead on the field into the stretch running hard all the way to the wire winning by a length and a quarter.

Long shot Seven Strikes ran the best race of his career getting up for a second place finish. Seven Strikes has been solid in allowance races and poor in stakes races in his last several races. Last weekend though he was determined as he was fourth in the early stages of the race. That was still eight lengths off the pace so he had some work to do in the last half of the race. He made a sustained run in the stretch gaining quite a bit of ground but never really threatened the winner settling for second a length and a quarter behind.

The deep closing Well Groomed made a big run in the stretch to finish third. Well Groomed’s running style puts him well off the pace. He was dead last here fifteen lengths off the pace. He moved up on the turn but his big run was in the stretch as he went from more than eleven lengths behind Roman Plutonium to finish just two lengths back at the wire. He stormed home and could be a three year old to keep any eye on. He could be one of those that gets much better later in the year.

Race: 3553.1215 lool Oaks – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Pennsylvania
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one sixteenth on the Dirt

Sisson’s Mark closed from way back catching Rattyburg in deep stretch earning her way to the Bluegrass Oaks. Sisson’s Mark has had a good spring. She won a listed stakes, just missed in a grade two race, and had a decent run in a grade three event. There where some flashy runners that got more attention than she did coming into the race but the way she finished may make her one of the top contenders for the Oaks. She was not dead last early on in the race. She was next to last more than thirteen lengths from the pace setters. She made a bit of a move on the turn for home but was still eight lengths back. The pace was failing though and she was full of run. She would make up those eight lengths out kicking California Oaks winner Rattyburg in deep stretch to earn a two length win.

Rattyburg ran a solid race and improved off of her California Oaks win speed figure wise in this event. This was her third straight placing in a grade one event and as such she will likely to be regarded as a contender in the Oaks. She was not as far back in the field position wise as she usually finds her self but she was eight lengths off the pace further from the front runners than usual. She made a nice move on the turn and was into contention quickly in the stretch. She had no answer for the fast closing Sisson’s Mark but was almost two lengths better than the third place finisher.

Luzerne made just her second route start and successful one. She was sixth in the early stages a little more than six lengths from the early pace. She moved up on the turn and put in a bid in the stretch. There she seemed to flatten out a bit not being able to keep pace with Rattyburg but was still strong enough to hit the board finishing third just under four lengths from the winner.

Race:  3553.5315 Big Turf Race – Grade I – $400,000
Track: Victoria
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and three quarters on the Turf

Crimson Sky did not disappoint as the favorite in this race. He is dominate at this distance as he earns his third victory at the distance in three tries. He did not need the big speed figure this time. Early on Crimson Sky found himself more than sixteen lengths from the early pace setters. He moved up in the second half of the race to get into contention and unleashed his closing kick in the stretch going from nine lengths back to three in front by the time he hit the wire. He strided out to a three and a half length win earning his first grade one victory.

Blazing Lights was an eleven to one long shot in this race. It appears though his experience at the distance may have paid off for him. His last three races prior to this one where all at the fourteen furlong distance. Blazing Lights was also towards the back of the pack in the early stages of the race. He made a strong move from the mile pole to the stretch getting into fifth position. He ran on well in the stretch but could not match the winner when it counted. He had to settle for second three and a half lengths back.

Northern Gibraltar also had good experience at the distance and he hit the board. With a win at the listed level at this distance coming into the race Northern Gibraltar was ready for a solid run. He was up close to the pace in third in the early stages. He would sustain his speed better than the other pace setters persevering for third. He would finish almost seven lengths from the winner.

Race: 3553.0614 Arkansas Juvenile — Derby Lock Prep – Grade II – $275,000
Track: Arkansas
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt

Tap Dances did just that in the stretch earning a spot in the Bluegrass Derby. The speed Tap Dances possess is dangerous and he should be considered a top contender despite the fact there are others that will be in that race with higher speed figures. He will carry a four race win streak now into the Derby. Today Tap Dances was content to press the early pace. They where honest on the front end as the top two runners where more than two lengths clear from the next group of runners. When asked Tap Dances took control carrying a length and a half lead into the stretch. He would push that to two lengths as he crossed the wire never really threatened on his way to Kentucky.

Sixteen to one Rock and Fire finally put up a good effort against class runners. He was a solid two year old and had a listed stakes placing at two. He never really could separate himself from allowance runners though until this past weekend. His only other previous start against graded runners was a dismal effort. This past weekend he turned a stalking trip into a second place in a grade one. He was fourth early on three lengths from the pace battle. He would get a little closer on the turn and take over the chasing duties of Tap Dances but never put a serious bid together in the stretch. He could match strides by not catch up.

Two time listed stakes winner Zaraki put together a solid effort to finish third. He had been racing over seas prior to this race. His two listed stakes wins came on the front end of the race. This past week end Zaraki was toward the back tenth more than seven lengths back. He would keep a steady pace from the half way point of the race to the wire passing tiring rivals to get into third but the time the runners hit the wire. He only managed to pick up a couple of lengths on the winner finishing five and a half back at the wire.  

Race: 3553.0216 Win The Crowd And Rome Will Follow Derby – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Florida
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and three sixteenths on the Dirt

Lucky’s Mash closed into a pace that was backing up winning by a clear three and a quarter lengths earning a trip to the Bluegrass Derby. Lucky’s Mash is the second foal of his dams to make the Bluegrass Derby field. He is also a full brother to Lucky’s Capitol the other foal that made the Bluegrass last year. Lucky’s Mash was well off the early pace in the early stages like he always is fifteen lengths from the pace setters. Today though the pace would not hold and Lucky’s Mash closed form more than ten lengths at the top of the stretch to win. Not only did he close ten lengths he put three lengths on them before he got to the wire.

There was a three way photo for second. No More Chavez got the nod over Ucantbreakmyspirit and Riverbender for second. No More Chavez stalked the pace set by Ucantbreakmyspirit. Chavez was third in the early stages and had picked up the chase as Ucantbreakmyspirit took a two and a half length lead into the stretch. Riverbender was well back early sitting in eleventh place twelve lengths from the pace. Riverbender was full of run though around the turn and into the stretch hard charging.

Uncantbreakmyspirit was tiring, No More Chavez was wearing him down and Riverbender was full of run. No these could remotely contest Lucky’s Mash when he flew by. The wire was getting closer and these three came together as one. Despite the late momentum Riverbender had to settle for fourth. Uncantbreakmyspirit somehow held third and No More Chavez was second.