{"id":61098,"date":"2023-02-16T04:01:14","date_gmt":"2023-02-16T04:01:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=61098"},"modified":"2023-02-16T04:01:16","modified_gmt":"2023-02-16T04:01:16","slug":"gi-stakes-review-11th-february-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=61098","title":{"rendered":"GI Stakes Review – 11th February 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A busy weekend for graded racing in sim world, with nine Grade I races around the globe. We start in California where 14 three year old fillies went to the start in the GI LOS VINEGRETTE STAKES<\/em><\/strong> over a mile on the dirt track. First past the post was stormborn3’s<\/strong> front running STORM SWALLOWER<\/strong> who broke fast and was never headed. The grey daughter of Tapit<\/em> posted a 106 speed and notched up her third Grade I victory. The win paid $16.40 and V. Gardner provided the perfect ride. Finishing like a rocket in second place was the unlucky RIGHTTHROUGHYOU<\/strong>. Despite being detached at halfway, worldclass10’s<\/strong> Uncle Mo<\/em> filly ran on strongly and only went down by a length and a half at the line. She is still improving and compensation at this level awaits. Outback4’s<\/strong> stakes winning filly OUTBACK GEMINI<\/strong> ran a solid third place in her first attempt in graded company. In only her fourth start, she settled behind the winner for much of the race and kept on to gain a three figure speed rating. Last years’ GI BB Juvenile Filly<\/em><\/strong> winner EXPLOSIVE GHOST<\/strong> finished well to give trainer given18<\/strong> a fourth place. ADDISON LEE<\/strong> just held on for fifth, beaten six lengths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still in California on the dirt track, a full field of older fillies and mares started GI THE SANTA MARINA HANDICAP<\/em><\/strong>. The race over 8.5 furlongs threw up a surprising winner with the battling four year old HOPKINSONS SISTER<\/strong> getting up by half a length. Hofcadet’s<\/strong> daughter of Medaglia D’Oro<\/em>, by Hall of Fame dam Union Jack Flyer<\/em>, was never far off the lead and finally put her head in front half a furlong out under a strong M. Zeus drive. She paid $47.90 and recorded an impressive 119 speed figure. Groupiedoll’s<\/strong> front running mare IT’S BRITNEY<\/strong> ran really well in her first graded race, beating all bar the winner. The five year old daughter of Curlin<\/em> almost grabbing a fifth consecutive win. Third place went to asrdistorted’s NITRO QUEEN<\/strong>. The dual Grade I winning mare held every chance coming off the final bend but didn’t have the pace of the first two home and was beaten four lengths. Masterfun’s<\/strong> seven year old IS IT ENOUGH<\/strong> kept on nicely for fourth a further length behind, and is still competitive at this level despite her age. SPINNING ARROW<\/strong> came from the rear to grab fifth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third event in California was the GI SAN FRANCISCO CAPITAN HANDICAP<\/em><\/strong> held on the turf track. The race was open to all four year olds and older over a distance of a mile and a half. The field of 13 was led home by the five year old DISTORTED FUNNIES<\/strong>. Asrdistorted0’s<\/strong> son of Distorted Humor<\/em> made a successful return to the grass, taking the lead half a mile out and not stopping once in front. He has now won Grade I events on both surfaces and was ridden by regular jockey B. Ball. The win was worthy of a 115 rating and paid $18.50. Three lengths behind the winner was spqr4th’s<\/strong> improving four year old TSARDOM<\/strong>. The Mehmas<\/em> colt finished strongly to take the runner up position after settling in rear for the first half of the race. Also finishing strongly was ONE LOVECRAFT<\/strong> in third. Grenoble2’s<\/strong> stayer was doing his best work at the finish after spending much of the race in last place and remains consitent at this level. Lifeinyourway’s<\/strong> Justify<\/em> gelding JUST RALLY TO KING<\/strong> set the early pace and kept on once headed to claim fourth, beaten under four lengths. KIM KAM GALILEO<\/strong> stayed the trip well in taking fifth and needs a return to further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over in Florida we had the GI JAI ALAI PARK TURF<\/em><\/strong> over the distance of eleven furlongs. A dozen four year olds and older went to the start for the total prize of three quarters of a million dollars. Taking the win was former claimer ANTIGUA ADELE. Toucheamore’s<\/strong> Authorized<\/em> gelding grabbing his second Grade I win after scooting away to score by two and a half lengths. The five year old recorded a career best speed of 119 and paid $17.10. After six striaght victories, riponred’s RED BRENIN<\/strong> had to settle for the runners up prize here. The four year old Galileo<\/em> colt finished well under the N. Lawton drive but found one too good at the line. A further length behind in third was the consistent five year old BLACKROSE PRISON<\/strong>. Trainer simsters2<\/strong> will try again to get him a second Grade I win elsewhere. The front running WESTPAC EMPEROR<\/strong> faded into fourth after leading until the final bend for trainer mastermbp<\/strong>. DEVIOUS KICK<\/strong> faded into fifth and again didn’t stay this trip in this grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japan hosted THE FEBRUARY STAKES<\/em><\/strong> over a mile on dirt. The Grade I race attracted 14 starters and the four year old HAGRIDDEN<\/strong> made every yard of the running to take the first prize by over two lengths. Foundational2’s<\/strong> Medaglia D’Oro<\/em> colt finally got back into the winners circle with his last victory coming as a two year old in the GI BB Juvenile<\/em><\/strong>. Jockey D. Raymond got the fractions right and set a 119 speed rating with the win paying $34.30. In second place was driveling’s<\/strong> gelding ROYAL LUNACY<\/strong>. The son of Kingman<\/em> was trying graded company for the first time on his twentieth start and ran his fastest race to date. SUBTLE DETAILS<\/strong> chased the leader throughout before finding little inside the final furlong. Rtribbett2’s<\/strong> five year old couldn’t set the pace this time and paid for it late in the race but just held onto third. Beerpong’s MOUNT KUSHMORE<\/strong> was beaten a total of five lengths in fourth and the gelding seems a little below form in his last two runs since his GI Sterile Mile<\/em><\/strong> victory. DEPUTY IS AMERICAN<\/strong> just held on to fifth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally in Vermont we had four divisions of the GI VERMONT IS 4 LOVERS<\/em><\/strong>, two for three year old colts and two for three year old fillies. All races were over nine furlongs with both surfaces being used.
The colt dirt race had a tight finish with asrtriplecrown’s AMERICAN FERVOR<\/strong> getting up close to the line to win by a neck. The son of American Pharoah<\/em> was adding to his GII The Ransom<\/em><\/strong> victory the run before and posting a 105 speed rating. Unlucky in second place was givenstamina’s<\/strong> Tapit<\/em> colt DRENGILIGR<\/strong> who looked to have made a winning move down the stretch only to get collared late. Finishing well for third was last years’ GI BB Juvenile<\/em><\/strong> winner VINDIFY<\/strong>. Dontbetonme16’s<\/strong> son of Justify<\/em> beaten less than two lengths. Fourth went to inthamoney’s YAUPON CAT<\/strong> who came with his usual late finish and may need further still. LORNE AMERICIUM<\/strong> held on to fifth.
The colt turf race saw an impressive win for 1strule’s<\/strong> Dubawi<\/em> colt TROJAWI<\/strong>. After settling in mid division he finished strongly to lead just inside the final furlong and post an excellent 109 figure and is now three from three over 9 furlongs. SOMEWHEREINASMILE<\/strong> did nothing wrong in finishing second here. Asrstar3’s<\/strong> son of Zoustar<\/em> led at a decent pace and only just failed to complete a hat trick of wins. In third, amir1680’s CRACKING QUEST<\/strong> continues to improve and ran another solid race. He kept on well without troubling the winner and was beaten just over three lengths. Fourth went to slowrollelite1’s INNER OUTLAW<\/strong> who stayed this trip well on is first attempt. BROKE MY MOUTH<\/strong> battled to hold fifth.
The dirt fillies event attracted 14 starters and went to tarton31’s<\/strong> winning machine TARTAN ZEPHYR<\/strong>. The scratch bred daughter of Tapit<\/em> gaining win number six from seven starts and recording a speed of 104. She moved into the lead half a mile out and kept on strongly to hold off any challengers. ENDLESS ELATION<\/strong> improved again to run on into second place. Padrebri’s<\/strong> Curlin<\/em> filly beaten two and a half lengths at the line. Eyecatching in third was amir1707’s GRUELLING BRIDLE<\/strong>. The filly blasting home from a hopeless position under jockey R. Pollard and is crying out for a bit more distance. LUCY LOVES RICKY<\/strong> ran well in her first graded race for trainer roxyken<\/strong>, beaten less than three lengths. MOUTHSOFDECADENCE<\/strong> stayed the trip well in fifth.
The fillies turf race was contested by just the nine runners. Beerkeg1’s TIFFANY WATSON<\/strong> finally getting the win after second places in the GI BB Filly Juvy Turf<\/em><\/strong> and the GI Juvenile Filly<\/em><\/strong> in Japan. The daughter of Frankel<\/em> making no mistake here with a decisive two length victory. Asrstar14’s FRANKLY INVINCIBLE<\/strong> was the only one to get anywhere close to the winner when finishing strongly to take second prize. Despite beating the winner in Grade I events as a juvenile, beerkeg20’s<\/strong> favourite SOFI RYAN<\/strong> could only finish in third place here and may not have appreciated the step up in trip. Vaguy1’s ARYA’S QUEST<\/strong> faded into fourth some six lengths off the winner.
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A busy weekend for graded racing in sim world, with nine Grade I races around the globe. We start in<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":177305,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-61098","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61098","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/177305"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=61098"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61098\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":61099,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61098\/revisions\/61099"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=61098"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=61098"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=61098"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}