Woodly captures a thriller at the wire in the Mario’s Logs Challenge

Woodly held off all comers in a thrilling stretch battle to capture this week’s Mario’s Logs Challenge. This was his tenth victory in thirty six starts, and his fifth stakes win. The $36000 paycheck pushed him over the $600000 mark in career earnings. With the win, he also helped to solidify his Turf Long Division Ranking, moving him up to number fifteen in the Older Males category.

The race started out with a very tight break from the gate. About two furlongs in, K’aleidoscope had managed to put a short cushion between himself and the field. He only managed to open up about a length, though, and it wouldn’t prove to be nearly enough when the pack surged at the half way mark. Woodly owned the second half, leading the charge that surged past the fading leader and opening up a length and a half on the field at the top of the stretch from just off the pace. It would not prove to be a walkaway though, as Gove The Governor and Windshielded both turned up the heat in the stretch, quickly eating up what looked like a solid gap by the leader. As they approached the wire, it still looked to be anyone’s race, with all three contenders finding that next gear, and stretching for the tape. Woodly managed to hold off the challenge though, claiming the victory by a scant half length at the wire. Gove The Govenor was awarded second by the judges in a photo finish for the place, with Windshielded taking third.