SHANNON DOCTOR Bonanza victor more tortoise than hare

The SHANNON DOCTOR Bonzanza offered few surprises on Saturday, as favorite High Hill Prospect went to a convincing win, taking the 7 furlongs on turf in 1:25 4/5.

Without any true pace-setters in the race, the daughter of High Chaparral jumped to the lead from the break, with career starter Mrs. Reeley pushing the leader. Shake A Spear settled into third, just trailing the top two horses, while Inside The Eighth dropped back a little off the pace of the front pack, but seemed to be comfortable in her stride. The second first-time racer in the field, CC Four, fell to the back immediately and never had anything to show, continually dropping farther back as the race went on.

Things really began to take shape at about the 2.5-furlong mark, as Mrs. Reeley began to show her inexperience and quickly dropped off the pace. With the other runners going steady, Shake A Spear just waited for her moment as they rounded the turn, where she turned on her jets and charged towards the front. High Hill Prospect had too much, though, and the challengers were no match as High Hill Prospect held on to control from gate to wire and win by two lengths. Inside The Eighth took advantage of the weakening Mrs. Reeley to make a push and finish in third, four-and-a-quarter lengths back from Shake A Spear. Mrs. Reeley and CC Four both finished more than 11 lengths off the pace.

While High Hill Prospect looked impressive to onlookers, her speed of 68 did not turn too many heads. Popular among bettors with jock L Bucholtz on board, the top finisher paid $3.80 to win.

“It may not have been her best run ever, but she did what she had to do,” Bucholtz said. “I think she had plenty left to run harder if she had been pushed.”

Shake A Spear and jock B Clark paid out $4.20 to place while Inside the Eighth and rider B Coates went $2.10 for show. The bettors’ second choice, Mrs. Reeley, finished in fourth, while CC Four brought up the rear.

“I can’t really say anything went horribly wrong,” Mrs. Reeley jock M Arnold said. “It was her first time running when it mattered, and she’ll get it figured out.”

The exacta went off the board at $10.60, while trifecta winners are looking at a payout of $45.40.

The runners split a $55,000 purse.