Seattle Rallying Stakes ends in a thriller

The two cofavorites showed why the oddsmakers chose them, battling all the way down to the wire, before Callisto Of Cirra(ENG) lunged over the line to grab a thrilling quarter length victory in this week’s Seattle Rallying Stakes. The four year old filly out of Dubawi(IRE) notched her fifth career stakes win, as well as her ninth overall victory in her twenty six career starts. She posted a 105.55 speed, falling just 1.29 points short of the race record. The victory boosts her career earnings over the 300K mark, giving her $309549 lifetime. It also inched her up the divisional rankings, gaining her nine points to a ranking of 49 in the female Turf Classic Division. Payouts were kind of slim on the front side, with the two favorites finishing first and second, but with the long shot grabbing the show position, the trifecta paid decently. The winner paid $8.20 $4.30 $3.00 across the board. The exacta was short with a $27.50 payout, but the good money came in the trifecta, with a $345.00 payout on a two dollar bet.

Auror Derby(KY) broke hard from the gate, challenged early on the front end by Crafty Groomer(KY). Auror Derby(KY) shook off the early challenge, though, opening up a length by first call, with the rest of the field over three lengths off the lead. She only managed to open up another half length on Crafty Groomer(KY) by the half, but the rest of the runners were more than five lengths off the pace, and she looked to have things well in hand. The closers start manoevering for position as the crossed the half, slowly closing the gap. As they reached third call, Auror Derby(KY)’s lead had all but vainshed, and Crafty Groomer(KY), Angels In Heaven(KY), and Five Dead(KY) all bunched together within three quarters of a length, with Callisto Of Cirra(ENG) coming up quickly behind them. Auror Derby(KY) lasted until about the seven and a half furlong mark before packing it in, with Crafty Groomer(KY) lasting a bit longer, but not much. Down the stretch it was a three horse battle, turning into a two horse battle as they drove for home, with Five Dead(KY) slowly beginning to lose ground. As they approached the finish line it was still either of their races to win, but Callisto Of Cirra(ENG) managed to edge out front, grabbing the quarter length victory from Angels In Heaven(KY). Five Dead(KY) finished third, two and three quarters out at the wire.