Stagebill in Marquee Performance

Tigereyes’ talented Theatrical(ire) colt, Stagebill(ire), proved easily best in Saturday’s feature.  The big chestnut stalked favored Dane’s Risen Star throughout the ten furlong affair and put that one away with ease when roused in head stretch.  The two and three quarter length margin of victory is a bit misleading because jockey Linda Jenkins began easing her charge a sixteenth from the wire as there was no competition in sight.

 

Opinora’s Slew O’Trouble stayed gamely for the place while no threat to the winner.  Dig Me Open edged Perfect Fit for the show some seven and a half lengths back while favored Dane’s Risen Star saw his two race win streak melt away with a fifth place finish.

 

Tigereyes was unsure what was next for his colt.  “I don’t know, quite frankly.  I still have this funny feeling that he’s a better turf horse.  Stagebill won his first two lifetime starts easily.  Both were grass races and he looked very, very good in each.  Then I figured I better see if he can run on dirt.  He won a good allowance race in Japan to go three for three lifetime.”

 

“Since then I’ve been switching him back and forth between the two surfaces.  Both of his stakes wins are on dirt at ten furlongs so I guess that should seal the deal.  But in the Grade I Movieland Turf Cup he split a superior field and was beaten less than two lengths.  The four horses he beat are all graded winners with total earnings of around five million dollars.”

 

“I may give him one more shot against the big boys on the grass.  Then, if he doesn’t do real good, it’s back to the dirt for good.  Maybe”