Big Race Recaps 2636

Race: 2636.3513 Ark De Triumph – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track: Longchamp
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf

Bristol Rovers did what he needed to do and in the end this was not much of a race. Militant was the first away from the gates and he set the pace under some mild pressure. After the first six furlongs Militant kicked away from his fellow pace setters and was clear by nearly three lengths entering the stretch. Bristol Rovers took his time early and made a steady push to the front after the first six furlongs.

Bristol Rovers then kicked it up a notch in the stretch and blew by Militant under a strong hand ride. Rovers was four and a half lengths in front of the fading Militant at the wire in a near perfect prep of the Breeder’s Bowl Turf. Militant showed he might have a little left holding the pace a lot better that he has in his previous few races. Jacques was along for third nine and a half lengths behind Bristol Rovers. He never threatened in this race passing many tiring runners to get the show.

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Race: 2636.0414 Flower Pot Stakes – Grade I – $750,000
Track: New York
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Turf

Leprechaun Hunt surprises the top two fillies. Leprechaun Hunt pulled off a slight upset earning her first grade I win. It was her first grade I race all year but she did win a grade II race early in the year. Leprechaun had a dream trip behind a somewhat slow pace. She took full advantage of getting the jump and the two more accomplished fillies in the field.

Leprechaun Hunt had the speed to set the pace here but the tactics here were to lay just off the slow pace. She picked up the pace and assumed control of the race around the turn for him six lengths in front of Devils Slide and eleven lengths in front of Turning Japanese. That proved to be enough space as she headed into the stretch with a clear lead. Both Devils Slide and Turning Japanese were making up a lot of ground but it was just too little too late.

Leprechaun Hunt finished a length and a half ahead of Devils Slide. Turning Japanese got third just two and three quarter lengths behind the winner. These top three runners will very likely face each other again in a couple of weeks in the Breeder’s Bowl Turf Distaff.    

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Race: 2636.5315 Coalminer Cup – Grade I – $1,500,000
Track: Victoria
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf

The most shocking race of the day saw the great winning streak of Horseshoe Bay come to an end. The day belonged to another three year old named Minesweeper. Minesweeper laid just off the solid early pace by Roidazoid. When the time came Minesweeper moved up and took control.

Horseshoe Bay found himself seventeen lengths behind the early pace a near impossible distance to close. It was the four year old filly Krishna (IRE) that took up the chase of Minesweeper. Minesweeper was five lengths clear entering the stretch with only Krishna (IRE) appearing a possible threat. Krishna (IRE) made a strong run through the stretch to get within one length of Minesweeper who seemed to run out of his mind today. Title Duke was along for third with a mild late move he was seven and a quarter lengths behind the winner.

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Race: 2636.0415 Classic Turf Stakes – Grade I – $750,000
Track: New York
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf

Sunnybank Memorial made quick work of this short field turning in a very nice workout in preparation of his title defense. You could not have scripted a better way to go into the Breeder’s Bowl Turf. Sunnybank Memorial showed a little biut of speed stalking in third closer to the pace than usual. He fired in his usual way swallowing up the pace setter Dancin in Seattle early in the stretch.

Sunnybank Memorial finished six and three quarter lengths clear of second place Dancin in Seattle. The three year old filly Hail to the King did manage to get third however she was fifteen lengths behind the winner.   

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Race: 2636.8316 The St. John‘s – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Eastern Kentucky
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Turf

La Pata Daisy cut back in distance but nothing has really changed. She won again and now will look forward to the Breeder’s Bowl. La Pata ran her race sitting well off the early pace about eleven lengths back. From there she out closed the other closers and caught the early speed romping home by two and three quarter lengths in the end.

Second was a tight photo between Getaloadofthis and Testing Fractions (IRE). The closer Getaloadofthis got the nose hair in front of the stalking Testing Fractions. It was close with fourth place No More Options (GB) three lengths back in fourth, fifth place Star Indy three and a quarter lengths back, and sixth place AP Andy four lengths behind the winner.

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Race: 2636.0314 QE2 Challenge – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Kentucky
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Turf

Cold Storage was super impressive in her gate to wire victory. She was quickly away from the gates and established a wide early lead. She lead by as many as five and a half lengths entering the stretch and never slowed down one bit. This was the second fastest time for the QE2 Challenge. Only Jaw Dropper’s amazing run last year was better.

Cold Storage won easily by four and a half lengths. She served notice to all those Breeder’s Bowl Distaff Turf hopefuls and should be a major player. Dew Bonb came along for second making up a small amount of ground on Cold Storage through the stretch. Iron Shoes finished third also making up a little ground on Cold Storage in the stretch.    

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Race: 2636.0816 Could be history in the making – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Maryland
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt

Cupid’s Dead ran a real nice race to beat out Squall is a Storm. Cupid’s Dead was in a group about seven lengths off the early pace with Squall is Storm and Spanish Sunset. As the pace setter faded this group of three moved in tandem with Cupid’s Dead gaining a little more ground than the other two. That proved to be the difference as Squall is a Storm never really made any ground on Cupid’s Dead through the stretch. Squall did manage to pull just in front of Spanish Sunset to secure the place.

For Squall a fall back in performance was probably to be expected after that great run before this race. She should be in a very good position to defend her Breeder’s Bowl Distaff title from some very nice three year old fillies.  

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Race: 2636.5515 Knick Knack Juvenile – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Queensland
Restrictions: All horses, 2 years old
Distance: A mile and one sixteenth on the Turf

These two year old stakes are hard to predict and this one was no different. Crimson Warrior showed he liked the off going on the turf and ran down Hopes and Fears in the stretch. Crimson Warrior was near the back of the field early but not very far off the pace. He moved up when asked and made a strong drive through the stretch to catch Hopes and Fears in deep stretch.

Crimson Warrior won by a length and three quarters over Hopes and Fears whp ran a really good race stalking just off the speed. Blessed Road found himself further back than usual and did not close as quickly on the off turf. He did make up enough ground to finish third three and a quarter lengths back.

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Race: 2636.0915 Frickazee Stakes – Grade I – $500,000
Track: New Jersey
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 2 years old
Distance: A mile and one sixteenth on the Dirt

Moon Queen did indeed posses the best speed in the field and she used it to her advantage. She shot out of the gates and was quickly clear early. She kicked clear even further around the turn for home with a four length lead. She made that lead stand up against the fast closing Hancock Pond holding on for a length and a half win.

Hancock Pond was way back early more than eleven lengths off the early pace and closed with a fury. That sort of move at this age is very impressive. Baldo Hollandia was along for third. She raced just off the early pace and made a steady move in the stretch although she never threatened the winner.

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Race: 2636.0416 Sparkling Wine Stakes – Grade I – $500,000
Track: New York
Restrictions: All horses, 2 years old
Distance: A mile and one sixteenth on the Dirt

The interestingly named Lovely Sheep scored a front running victory at 16/1. Lovely Sheep got out quickly holding a slight advantage over Lulu’s First Tap. These two raced neck and neck until deep stretch when Lovely Sheep just edged away to a length and a quarter victory.

The fun did not stop there. Crafty Cyclone made a huge move from eleven lengths back and closed with a rush catching up to Lulu’s First Tap. Armstrong sat mid pack and also picked it up in the stretch and that created a three way photo for second, third, and fourth. Lulu’ First Tap got the place, Crafty Cyclone got the show with Armstrong left out in the cold in fourth. There were four more runners within a half length of the fourth place runner.

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