Jai Alai winner pulls off a shocker
The Race:
The G1 Jai Alai Park Handicap was capped by the Summer Wine grinding it out on the rail, to win by ½ of a length. This race was also very pricey, as Summer Wine was 12-1, Hurricane Island the 2nd place finisher was 21-1, and also 21-1 was the 3rd place finisher Robust. The pace was set by Horatio Nelson, who finished 4th beaten 2 ¾. Summer Wine sat a little off the pace, in 4th. Lets get to the Race Recap!
Race Recap:
Taking the lead early was Horatio Nelson, he took a nice early lead by 2 ¾. Hurricane Island made a middle move getting 1 ½ behind Horatio Nelson, but Horatio Nelson clung to the lead for the time being, but got tired in the stretch and Hurricane Island took the lead, but then Summer Wine came to challenge and under the shadow of the wire, won by ½ of a length. At 10f Robust probably would’ve won, he was closing fast to get 3rd only beaten a length
Gowans Footnotes:
Summer Wine sat in 4th early, moved gradually through the whole race, then got up under the wire. Hurricane Island stalked in 2nd, made a middle move, then got out finished in the stretch. Robust relaxed in mid pack, started to make up ground going into the turn, then flew in the stretch. Horatio Nelson got a good break and opened up a early 3 length lead, lost the lead in early stretch, but clung gamely only fading to 4th. Listening sat in the back of the pack early, started to close around the turn, and closed nicely late. Strike The Red sat in mid pack, made a middle move then couldn’t keep up, never had much of a run. Henry Clay sat in the back, made a move around the turn, then passed tired horses in the stretch. Folsom Blues relaxed far back, then made a move coming into the turn, then flattened out in the lane. City Fortress sat in mid pack, then tired in the lane. A Vow To Be A Slew sat back early, and had no kick for the lane. Weownthenight stalked the lead, and couldn’t keep pace for the last half of the race. Bernie Bernie sat in last early, and was a non-factor. Mambo Bones sat far back early, and was a non-factor.
Advice For Next Out:
Summer Wine looks like he could run a better race than Saturday next out, 2nd off the layoff. Watch Hurricane Island and Horatio Nelson next out at a shorter distance. Watch Robust and Listening at a farther distance next out.
After Race Interviews:
Summer Wines trainer Kingman had to say this after the race, “Summer Wine ran as expected Saturday. The 9 week winter rest did him a world of good and he showed it on the track today he came out of the race healthy and you can expect another supreme effort next race I haven’t dodged one horse in the Sim, this guy is for real. I look forward to his next race with great anticipation.” Kingman also celebrated a win with Social Grace in North Carolina in a listed Stake. Good Job Kingman!!!
If anybody has comments, please send them to bgowansjj@gmail.com!