Poetic Lore(IRE) got a nose out frontearly, and never looked pack, taking the field gate to wire to capture thisweek’s Pearl Laura(IRE) Special. This is the second straight stakesvictory for the up and coming young filly, who clocked an 80.85 speed figure onthe way to the victory. The winner’s share of the purse puts her careerearnings up over the 100K mark, giving her $107724 in her seven careerstarts. The back to back stakes victories have also given her somecredibility in the Juvenile Filly Turf Classic Division, propelling her intothe top twenty to a number 18 division ranking. Once again, I proved thisweek why I don’t make my living handicapping races, but there was some fairprofit generated at the betting windows by the real handicappers outthere. The winner paid $8.10 $4.00 $2.50 across the board. Theexotic payouts weren’t bad with the 5/1 second place finisher, with the exactapaying $44.40 and a 141.90 payout in the trifecta.
The break from the gatewas very tight as expected, with four of the six runners bunched tightly earlyin the race. Poetic Lore managed to get a nose out front, being pressedtightly by Ireland Native(ENG) and Dubai Charm(KY) as the reachedthe first call. Dubai Charm dropped back a bit as they approached thehalf, conserving her energy, while Ireland Native continued to press, a scantquarter length behind Poetic Lore as they passed the half marker. PoeticLore found a bit of extra jump at the half, widening her lead to one and threequarters, with Native Jump finally falling off, and the rest of the fieldpretty much holding position through the third call. As the roared downthe stretch, Dubai Charm fought hard to make up some ground, but only managedto gain a half length, while Olmost A Storm(FL) coming from near theback of the pack made up over two of the four and a half she was behind at thetop of the stretch before running out of ground. Poetic Lore crossed thefinish line a length and a half ahead of second place Dubai Charm, with OlmostA Storm rounding out the trifecta, tow and a quarter lengths out at the wire.