The opening 4 furlongs of the Grade-1 World Weekly News 2000 featured a hard fought 3 way battle for the lead between trainer bkrclaimers7’s MONTEROSSO LAWMAN, trainer grenoble4’s JUNGLE STAR CAT and trainer amir1763’s ORDERIST, with MONTEROSSO LAWMAN hitting the marker first by a short head. Stalking the lead trio was trainer redhill14’s COLDEST WORLD and trainer given2ndchances’s HEART’S RAGE 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 lengths off the early lead.
At 7 furlongs JUNGLE STAR CAT had taken the lead with HEART’S RAGE 1 length behind and gaining momentum. MONTEROSSO LAWMAN, the early leader was 3rd but losing his best stride. COLDEST WORLD was 4th but now 3 1/2 lengths back, trainer checkmate24’s THE SILENT SOLDER had rallied from 7th into 5th and trainer 17away’s INVINCIBLY and trainer checkmate31’s CIRCUS WARRIOR were both gaining steadily from the rear of the field.
HEART’S RAGE caught the game JUNGLE STAR CAT as the pair entered the stretch and drew away from the game, but tired JUNGLE STAR CAT by 2 lengths at the finish line. THE SILENT SOLDIER rallied hard throughout the stretch but had to settle for 3rd. CIRCUS WARRIOR who was 12th, 12 lengths back at 5 furlongs, unleashed a furious late rally but still finished 4th, 4 1/2 lengths behind the winner and INVINCIBLY steadily moved forward to claim 5th.
HEART’s RAGE now has 4 wins in a row, bagging a Grade-1 and Grade-3 back-to-back, pushing his career earnings to over the $739-K mark in 11 lifetime starts.
RACE CHART w/comments … in FINISH order:
HEART’S RAGE … mid pack early, tracked pace to 6 furlongs, swept past JUNGLE STAR CAT and drew away final furlong
JUNGLE STAR CAT … pressured early leader, battled hard entire race, tired at 8 furlongs held on gamely, hard earned place
THE SILENT SOLDIER … mid pack early, good steady rally from 5 furlongs, couldn’t threaten top pair
CIRCUS WARRIOR … rear pack early, furious rally from 6 furlongs to wire, needed another furlong
INVINCIBLY … rear pack early, even paced; slow steady surge forward passed tired runners for 5th
MONTEROSSO LAWMAN …early leader, set early pace, caught at 7 furlongs, held on gamely, tired badly final 2 furlongs
COLDEST WORLD … lead pack early, prominent to 7 furlongs, grudgingly gave ground, faded late
OMEN OF THUNDER … mid pack early, hung on to pace for 7 furlongs, slowly drifted back late
GOLDEN DECLARATION … 13th, near the rear early, conceded 12 lengths, rallied willingly but too late
IN DOMINO TABLE … mid pack early, even pace 6 furlongs, slow steady fade late
ORDERIST … pressured early leader in 3rd, prominent for 5 furlongs, tired badly after a mile
EL SNITZOR … rear pack early, never got involved, steady fade from start to finish
MAFIA MAN … 14th and last early, trailed field, no move, never threatened contention
WOETTE’S PLANET … mid pack early, tried to hang on to early pace, nothing left at 7 furlongs, wrapped up late