Tight Finish in Smackdown 12f
The judges took their time in reviewing the photo in the 12f running for fillies and mares in the million dollar running of the big Smackdown event today. When the results were finally posted, and made official, it was CSI Super making the visit to the winners circle.
CSI Super entered the race after a streak of disappointing runs lately. However, Jockey Buchta was able to get her to the lead and manage to hold on a late rush by several horses, to win by a mere nose. This was CSI Super’s 12th career victory recording a speed of 105. A total of 10 horses finished withing 4 lengths of the winner by the end of the race.
Desperado’s Mambo got away 9th from the gate and held that position for most of the race. She started to pick her way through horses as the field rounded the final turn and just came up short to CSI Super.
Disasterpiece ran in front of Desperado Mambo, clearing the path for her. Disasterpiece put in a game effort, just missing by a quarter length to take the show spot.
SO’K ran with CSI Super early on and sat in a well protected 2nd for much of the race. She surprised many with her effort as she was able to hold on to forth, collecting a decent check for her efforts.
Fifth place went to Dance of Death who ran with the pack for much of the race. She drifted a bit around the final turn, causing her to lose a bit of ground but was able to reek out the final purse check.
Frozen Four, an old favorite of mine, was no where to be seen early on. She struggled to get out of the gate, and found herself a good 13+ lengths back midway through the race. She showed her talent, closing hard and missing by just over a length. An impressive run that unfortunately gets no rewards for finishing 6th.
Gals Gone West took 7th after a slow start. She started making her move towards the leaders slipping up the inside rail as the field went down the back stretch. She got blocked when she caught up to the tiring AP Princess. When she finally shook free, she found herself almost 3 lengths shy of the winner.
Fusaichi Krissy showed her ability to close some ground, but overall, the race wasn’t impressive, and she ended up 8th.
Tough as Steel, who was my third choice, had a very tough time from post 17. She started by drifting the right as she left the gate, quickly finding herself in the 15th spot. She was a good dozen lengths back before she got serious and was able to make up ground, finishing over 4 lengths back in 9th.
Blinding’s name seems to fit her. She ran 5th most of the race and looked to be in a good spot to make a move. That was before she was blinded by the rest of the field that went soaring by her leaving her to take 10th. Now that I think about it, maybe it was the jockey that got blinded.
The Trident, my top choice, was a huge disappointment. I was happy to see her early positioning as she ran 4th, three or four lengths off the leader. A nice position to be in, well within striking distance. Somewhere near the 3/4 pole, things blew up as The Trident had nothing in her, and rapidly dropped back to lose by 10.
Taking twelve was Dynamic, the longshot in the race. She left slowly but made up some ground to overtake tiring horses, however was never a threat in the race.
AP Princess ended up thirteenth. She left the gate quickly, and was able to take the inside route. Running third early on, she showed the threat of an upset. Those chances faded rapidly as she started tiring down the backstretch and became an obsicle for others to get around.
War in Heaven, my second pick, simply ran poorly. Her name was rarely called by the track announcer during the race. War finished 14th, pretty much where she was throughout the race.
The Antidote moved up to graded stakes for the first time and was overmatched. She ran with the pack early on but simply overcame to the talent that overtook her, finishing 15th.
Sixteenth went to Otto Overmatched, who’s name says it all.
Nancy’s Boots was off her best and may have been a bit ill coming into the race. We understand that the vet was checking her out after the race, but his findings have not been released as of press time.