OTTO TRIBUTE Wins The 1000 Guineas!
The 1000 Guineas
Grade I
One Mile on the Firm Turf Course
$250,000
Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Stakes record – 2008 – OTTO TRIBUTE, 1:34 4/5, SPF 105.921
You know there was a huge race in Kentucky this weekend, something having to do with Blue Grass or something. But across the pond in Newmarket this weekend was a race on the real thing, the green, green, grass of the beautiful Turf course on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket Racecourse. For all of us true turf lovers, it is just as big as that other race in Kentucky. The name of the race is The 1000 Guineas which was named for the original purse for the race back in 1815. This is the second of the five British Classic races , and the first of the Filly Triple Crown. If you look back over the past few years, the winners of this race is a virtual Who’s Who of Filly Turf Racing. Three years ago it was MUMBAI who has gone on to gather an amazing nineteen wins including fourteen Stakes wins and multiple Gradeds. Two years back it was TENACIOUS V who also went on to much success. Last year it was BUDA FOR A DAY who set the Stakes record and has gone on to win seven Graded races and ten races overall in the early part of her four year old season. The question going into this race was whether or not another filly could win that could match up to those before her.
It appears that we have another filly destined for greatness from the results this weekend. OTTO TRIBUTE who came in as the slight favorite in the race, ran masterfully and showed that she belongs in the same breath as the others that have won this race. Running under the black and blood red colors of the Given Stables, she followed jockey J.Bradley’s instruction perfectly and actually breezed at the end to win by nearly two lengths. Trainer ShadowClaw had the race figured just the way he wanted it and had this beautiful light grey filly in top form.
It was figured that NATIVE MAMBO would be the early speed in the race and she certainly didn’t disappoint. She moved out front followed closely by INVINCIBILITY and looked as if she could run away and hide. OTTO TRIBUTE tucked in at the rail back in seventh and was nearly seven lengths back at the half where she started to make her move. She moved up through the crowded field nicely and at the top of the stretch moved outside and put it in another gear. BEST THERE IS tried to make a move to catch her but couldn’t make up any ground until Bradley eased up a bit at the end. BEST THERE IS and NATIVE MAMBO finished second and third respectively.
With the victory, “TRIBUTE” won her ninth race in ten starts with only a third place on the dirt to mar her perfect record. She hit her best SPF to date with a 105.92 which also broke the Stakes record by a full second. She bumped her earnings to more than $825K and moved up to number two overall in the three year old turf classic rankings behind only MIESQUE’S GOLD who made most of her ranking points as a two year old and has been a bit off lately. She is the third successful offspring of special Broodmare FUMASCUS but the first Graded Winner. There is also a two year old who won her first race.
When I asked owner Given how he feels about this tremendous filly, he told me, “This filly is quickly becoming one of the best I have ever had. I am not sure I will ever have a filly go on a run like OTTO TRIBUTE again, winning an amazing eight straight including the 1000 Guineas.” You could tell in a hurry that this pretty filly is really special to him and it sure isn’t hard to tell that she is a truly special lady on the grass overall. I can’t wait to see where she goes next and I plan to be there to watch her!
Good luck to all runners!
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