Colt takes field wire to wire in Barb’s Java Again Stakes

It’s a good thing this reporter enjoys a good word, as once again I’ve been fed my own, this week by an up and coming two year old.  Zucchini(AUS) took charge from the break, taking the field gate to wire to grab a length and a half victory in this week’s Barb’s Java Again Stakes.  The two year old son of Lonhro(AUS) also posted the top speed this week among all Juveniles at 86.4, enroute to improving his record to a perfect two wins in two starts.  Those all important stakes points also pushed him to a rank of 9 among two year old Turf Sprinters.  Payouts could have been better at the betting windows here, but the week wasn’t a total wash.  The winner Paid $10.20 $6.30 $4.40 across the board.  He also contributed to a $30.40 payout in the exacta and a passable $111.20 in the trifecta.

Zucchini took charge from the gate, shadowed early by High Ho Silver and race favorite Sound The Siren, but he managed to maintain the front spot.  At first call he was holding on to a scant quarter length, with High Ho Silver pressing hard, and Sound The Siren settling in just behind.  Sound The Siren dropped slightly more off the pace, content to wait out the pitched battle between Zucchini and High Ho Silver up front, only three quarters separating the latter two at the half.  High Ho Silver ran out of gas going into the second half, starting to fade, giving Zucchini, who looked to still have plenty left, full control of the race.   He had a length and a half on the field going into the stretch, and though Sound The Siren made several game attempts to close the gap, Zucchini crossed the wire with that same length and a half gap over Sound The Siren that he had going into the stretch.  Captain Midnight ran a solid race, neither gaining or losing much ground throughout, and took third place honors, three lengths out at the wire.