Late running closers ruled the day as trainer allfranks NODOUBT FRANK rallied from mid-pack early to win the Grade-3 CEO CLASSIC by a comfortable 2 3/4 lengths.
Trainer lgyetanother1’s CHANNELING LONGER led the field to the 6-furlong marker with trainer barcelona1’s UGWU and trainer jeffdrew’s ALL THE BAY AROUND 1 1/2 lengths behind in 2nd and 3rd. NODOUBT FRANK was 8th but still 12 1/2 lengths behind the leader.
At 8 furlongs CHANNELING LONGER extended the lead to 2 1/2 lengths and still looked comfortable. UGWU was now in 2nd with ALL THE BAY AROUND 3rd. At 9 furlongs the nature of the race changed dramatically, NODOUBT FRANK was only 3 lengths behind the struggling leaders and was making up ground fast. Trainer sremel63’s THANKYOUFORTHEVENOM and trainer liam7’s GREATEST GLORY, who was dead last at 4 furlongs, were both also advancing quickly and taking dead aim at the tiring top-3 runners.
Entering the stretch NODOUBT FRANK looked a clear winner, with only GREATEST GLORY still in hot pursuit, but quickly running out of time. THANKYOUFORTHEVENOM crossed the wire 3rd but was 2 3/4 lengths behind 2nd place GREATEST GLORY. It took a photo to determine 4th, with the nod going to the game but dead tired CHANNELING LONGER. Trainer vettstars RED KORNSNAKE who had moved into 4th at 8 furlongs, lost momentum late and had to settle for 5th place cash.
NODOUBT FRANK finally had his 1st Grade-3 victory after 3 previous tries and the win pushed his lifetime earnings over the $200K mark.
RACE CHART w/comments … in FINISH order:
NODOUBT FRANK … mid-pack early, launched a furious rally at 9 furlongs to sweep by tiring leaders, convincing winner
GREATEST GLORY …at the rear early, rallied hard from 18 lengths back, still gaining at wire fastest of all late
THANKYOUFORTHEVENOM … rear mid-pack early, late rally but no threat to top pair, clearly best of the rest
CHANNELING LONGER … set the early pace, strong until 9 furlongs, tried hard but very tired through stretch
RED KORNSNAKE … mid-pack early, even paced effort, mild stretch move but hung a bit late
ALL THE BAY AROUND … pressured early leader in 2nd, tough trip, couldn’t get lead, tired badly final 2 furlongs
RED DOG B … mid-pack early, steady even trip, started and finished 7th, couldn’t gain ground
TZINGHALIS … mid-pack early, conceded 14 lengths, modest rally late no impact on position
ACT QUIST … rear-pack early, late rally made up some ground and passed tired runners, too late
UGWU … stalked leader early in 2nd, prominent early in contention to 9 furlongs, faded badly late
JUST MIX IT UP … rear-pack early, fell 15 lengths back at 4 furlongs, no rally when asked
WHAT IT MEANS … lead-pack early, kept pace to 4 furlongs, started losing contact 8 furlongs, faded badly
BIG WOOL … lead pack early, last early, literally ran stride for stride with WHAT IT MEANS entire race
BKR RULERSHIP … near the rear early, never moved a muscle after 6 furlongs, distanced