Big Race Recap 2629

Several Breeder’s Bowl hopefuls got in their final preps this week. It was a week with not a lot of races but several very good finishes. Empire Reef, Manifest Destiny and Casterly Rock (IRE) were impressive. Estrogen and The Aus Boss (Aus) hooked up for a stretch battle, while Hold the Pickles upset a couple of Breeder’s Bowl Classic contenders.   

Race: 2629.0515 LA Derby – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Louisiana
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Dirt

Hold the Pickles shocked two of the top contenders for the Breeder’s Bowl Classic. This late developing son of A.P. Indy showed some heart in the stretch running strong all the way to the wire to win by a quarter length. Barring several defections from the Classic he does not have the stakes point to qualify.

He never lost contact with the front runners staying within about five lengths of the front runners. Macho Niner showed he can stalked just off a pace setter, stalking in second with Anticosti close by in third. As the race drew into the final turn the pace setter was quickly passed and Macho Niner took over with Anitcosti moving with him. Mean while just a couple of lengths back Hold the Pickles loomed.

Entering the stretch it looked like we were going to get a juicy stretch drive with Macho Niner and Anticosti but Macho Niner kicked away a bit as Anticosti seemed to flatten out. In one instance you felt let down and a split second later you see Hold the Pickles moving very well on the out side and the excitement comes roaring back. Hold the Pickles just kept coming catching Macho Niner in the final few jumps before the wire is a great race.

Have no fear Aniticosti fans he seems to be set up for a good performance in a few weeks. His last two may not be up to his standard but he has had a little time off and if freshness counts for anything he may have an advantage. Macho Niner looks like a top contender still despite being run down late. Keep in mind neither one of these contenders wanted to run their big race this time out.

http://www.smartacre.com/hr/jp/rlook.asp?league=00001&raceid=2629.0515

Race: 2629.5415 Mospe Cup – Grade I – $600,000
Track: New South Wales
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: One mile on the Turf

Not much of a surprise to see Manifest Destiny flying down the lane to pick up the win. He had stretched out in his previous couple of races and was solid but he appears to be much more suited to the one mile distance. This win makes him one of the favorites for the Breeder’s Bowl Mile.

Your Desert (IRE) did just what he does best and went straight to the lead. He was pressured for the first part of the race but kicked away from the pressure around the turn for home. At the top of the stretch if was nearly four lengths back to the closest runner. Manifest Destiny was the only runner in the field that was on the same level today. He cruised past rivals and was all out in the stretch. He needed nearly every inch of the stretch to run down Your Desert (IRE) winning by three quarters of a length.

Transylvania held third after stalking the pace setter for most of the race. He ran evenly through the stretch finishing four lengths back. One of the race favorites Niner Connection had a tough day and finished next to last twenty lengths back. That puts his Breeder’s Bowl status in doubt.

http://www.smartacre.com/hr/jp/rlook.asp?league=00001&raceid=2629.5415

Race: 2629.0114 Yellow Submarine Stakes – Grade I – $500,000
Track: California
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Turf

In the preview the favorites here looked vulnerable but on the track the looked outstanding. Estrogen was a grade I winner on turf before this race but has mainly run on the main track this year. She did not let that stop her from picking up her second grade I win on turf this year. She did it in gate to wire fashion.

No one pressed Estrogen so she set an easy pace clear of the field by more than two lengths early and as many as five lengths at one point. She was trailed by the other favorite The Aus Boss (AUS) who was stretching out for the first time. At the half way point The Aus Boss (AUS) kicked it up a notch and she made up some ground around the far turn. Entering the stretch Estrogen was still ahead four lengths but The Aus Boss (AUS) found another gear and started making up ground.

The two were pretty close mid stretch but Estrogen had just enough to hold off the amazing Aus Boss (AUS) by a quarter of a length at the wire. Long shot Adagio Fragrance closed from well off the early pace almost tracking down the top two. Adagio finished just a length and three quarters back with Spooky Ballet a close up fourth.

 http://www.smartacre.com/hr/jp/rlook.asp?league=00001&raceid=2629.0114

Race: 2629.7716  GRRM – Grade I – $500,000
Track: District of Columbia
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: Six furlongs on the Dirt

Casterly Rock (IRE) has now stamped himself as a key contender for the Breeder’s Bowl Sprint. He had an amazing stalking trip sitting just off a very fast pace and had enough in the tank to pull away in the end. In fact he was never seriously threatened in the stretch coasting to a two and three quarter length victory. He has won three of his last four, the older runners better pay attention.

They Call Me Magic basically followed Casterly Rock (IRE) the whole race. He stalked in fourth behind Casterly Rock (IRE) and tried to run with him into the stretch but just could not gain any ground on the winner. Call the Shots was one of the few runners able to gain any ground on the winner as he closed from eighth. He really only made up about half a length on the winner but that was enough to earn him the show a length in front of the fourth place runner Kingpin Jacob.

http://www.smartacre.com/hr/jp/rlook.asp?league=00001&raceid=2629.7716

Race: 2629.2216 The Oak Grove – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Delaware
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt

Empire Reef was very impressive. On paper the pace of this pace looked to be a hot one and the anticipated speed dual between Empire Reef and Termantia did not disappoint. These two went from the gates to the lead with Empire Reef holding an ever so slight advantage over Termantia with another speed horse Corzaffair (IRE) keeping close tabs in third.

Sometimes a very fast pace makes it hard for closers to close and that was the case here. The top three runners were eight and three quarters lengths ahead of the rest of the field by the half way point. Five runners, nearly half this field, were buried from the hot pace finding themselves ten plus lengths off the pace. You do not make up that kind of ground on dirt on a regular basis.

Empire Reef started to inch away around the turn and was strong through the stretch. Termantia tired as did Corzaffair (IRE) but the late runners were too late to even get into the money. Empire Reef won by two and a quarter lengths over Termantia. Corzaffair (IRE) held third another length back.

Seeking Perfection (IRE) was fourth but to give you an idea of the pace in this race she was nine and a half lengths off the early pace. That is a full three lengths further back than she normally races. She was five and a half lengths further back here than she was when she ran down Empire Reef a few races back in the Smackdown race. 

 http://www.smartacre.com/hr/jp/rlook.asp?league=00001&raceid=2629.2216