At 5 furlongs trainer 46away’s ROUGH PHARAOH caught trainer xixa0’s BACK TO THE BLACK LV and easily ran by the early pace setter. ROUGH PHARAOH then literally “coasted” the final 7 furlongs to score a “smashing” 4-length victory!
At the 4-furlong call, BACK TO THE BLACK LV had a 1 1/2 length lead over trainer cjt’s UP TO YOUR NECK, who was followed closely by trainer darelsalam1’s ARCTIC NIPPON and trainer joffre’s FRACIN’ THEATRICAL. ROUGH PHARAOH was positioned in 5th, 4-lengths off the lead and gearing up for her rush to the front.
By 6-furlongs, ROUGH PHARAOH and had opened up a 1 3/4 length advantage over UP TO YOUR NECK, who had passed BACK TO THE BLACK LV, as the early leader was tiring and trying hard to remain in the hunt. FRACIN’ THEATRICAL was still 4th but had faded to 6 lengths behind ROUGH PHARAOH. HERZWEINEN had rallied from 11th into 5th and was putting in a late charge to move into contention. Trainer jerrod’s HER VASCULAR ORGAN was also making steady progress taking over 6th, but was still 7 1/4 lengths from the leader.
ROUGH PHARAOH “breezed” home to win by 4 convincing lengths. HERZWEINEN was still gaining on her late but had to settle for 2nd place. HER VASCULAR ORGAN “ground” her way past tired runners to earn 3rd cash. UP TO YOUR NECK held on for 4th and trainer redhill24’s SPACE LAUNCH inched her way into 5th.
The win was ROUGH PHARAOH’S 2nd straight Stake win, (1st Graded), and increased the daughter of sire American Pharoah’s career earnings over the $590K mark.
RACE CHART w/comments … in FINISH order:
ROUGH PHARAOH … tracked the early pace in 5th, surged ahead at 5 furlongs and won as she pleased
HERZWEINEN …rear-pack early, huge late surge into 2nd, only runner still gaining on winner at the wire
HER VASCULAR ORGAN … rear mid-pack early, fine steady move forward, but never reached win contention
UP TO YOUR NECK … pressured pace in 2nd early, battled gamely throughout but was no match for the top pair
SPACE LAUNCH … mid-pack early, steady even paced effort, no stretch rally, simply best of the rest
BACK TO THE BLACK LV …early pace leader, battled hard through 6 furlongs, tired badly late
FRACIN’ THEATRICAL … tracked early pace in 4th, steady even trip to 6 furlongs, faded badly in stretch
HOZZIN’S FOLLY … near the rear early, never within 10 lengths after 4 furlongs, gained positions by attrition
AMERICAN DIPLOMACY … rear mid-pack early, started 9th and finished 9th, never gained on race leader
ARCTIC NIPPON … pressured early leader in 3rd early, out of contention at 6-furlongs, tired badly late
SALVISA … rear-pack early, started 11th and finished 11th, never really got into racing gear
TEJAY … at the rear early, never made a move to contend, outlasted “dead” tired runners late
LUKA’S DATA … mid-pack early, just behind winner at 4 furlongs, steady fade to the rear at 6 furlongs
BETHELRIDGE … mid-pack early, even paced to 4 furlongs, faded badly entering the stretch, distanced