A Kirbywinner(IRE) impressive in Bright Account Stakes

After trailing the field by a goodly margin at the half, race favorite A Kirbywinner(IRE) capped her second half comeback with a brilliant stretch run to capture this week’s Bright Account Stakes by two lengths. The three year old daughter of Danehill Dancer(IRE) finally broke her stakes jinx, grabbing her first win at this level. The race was a relatively slow paced stakes, with the winner posting only a 91.0 speed number, but it was more than enough. The win takes the filly’s career earnings to the $89420 mark for her thirteen career starts. The stakes win also climbed her halfway up the ladder in the Turf Sprint division for three year old females, taking her from a prerace ranking of 338 to a rank of 154 after the win. Oddmakers nearly hit this one on the nose, and payouts were marginal at the betting windows. The winner paid $6.30 $3.70 $2.60 across the board. The exotics were somewhat disappointing, with the exacta paying $19.90, and a payout of $70.30 in the trifecta.

Last Best Chance(PA) jumped out on top early in this one, challenged early by Sunday Peak(MN). The two were separated by a scant quarter length at the first call, with the nearest threat three lengths back in their wake. Sunday Peak(MN) began to fade as they sprinted towards the half pole, allowing Last Best Chance(PA) to take full command as they started into the second half, with a length and a quarter on Sunday Peak(MN) and five and a half on the rest of the field. The closers began to close the gap slowly, but Last Best Chance(PA) still held a commanding three and three quarters as they crossed the third call and head into the stretch. Just when it looked like she might walk away with this one, A Kirbywinner(IRE) put on an amazing burst of speed from five legths out at the top of the stretch, sailing past everyone as they ran down the stretch, to cross the wire two lengths ahead of the pack. Flying Kitty(KY) was closing determinedly, but settled for a second place finish. Last Best Chance(PA) held on for third place, four lengths out at the wire.