Great Finish In the G2 Bob Barker

THE BOB BARKER STAKES

GRADE 2 $250,000

3 YEAR OLD FILLIES AND MARES

SIX FURLONGS ON THE FAST DIRT

As the fillies neared the gate a wild buffalo ran across the infield to signify the start of the race. An odd observation indeed, but one that had to be mentioned none the less. Seven beautiful fillies at the top of their game entered the gate at Golden Sands with visions of Grade 2 happiness less than 2 minutes away.

The gate opened to a clean break, as expected the two favorites hooked up right from the start. Toral’s Kilgallen and Newastin14’s Alpinist became rivals in their last meeting and the feud spilled over into this race right from the sound of the bell. Scorching down the backside the two rivals were followed by Foals2010’s The Loot is Gone and 7cardstud’s Broken Ballado just two lengths back. The rest of the field; City State, Richboro and Outlaws Ghost were in their usual closing positions.

Heading into the turn, jockeys Johnny Sands and Victor Gannon were looking at each other wondering who was going to budge first. Neither horse wanted to back down or save any ground, they just wanted to beat each other. And it was like that until the middle of the stretch. The battle weary Kilgallen and Alpinist had ran themselves out and the rest of the field took notice and promptly swarmed. All seven horses at the line separated by just over 2 lengths!

Outlaw’s Ghost snuck up the rail in the final strides to close from last to first and shock the world. Mike Writer talks about his victory, “I was saving ground the whole way, then I saw the leaders start getting leg weary and I thought we had a shot,  but I had no idea she was going to kick it in like that! Outlaw is so small, I don’t think anyone even saw us sneak up the rail!”

Mav1762’s Richboro closed along with Outlaw’s Ghost to get up for second place money. She just missed by a head. And to round out the trifecta was aces1201’s City State, who makes it a habit to be around the wire. An overall great race, if you get time check it out, you will not be disappointed.