{"id":7330,"date":"2009-02-28T23:44:38","date_gmt":"2009-02-28T23:44:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=7330"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","slug":"oldbtb_2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=7330","title":{"rendered":"Turfmas in February"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\">There were no great surprises in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = \"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags\" \/><st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:State w:st=\"on\">California<\/st1:State><\/st1:place>\u2019s Grade 3 <I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Honey Bee Handicap<\/I> this weekend, with perhaps the exception of a disappointing run from the favorite. The winner, however, was very well supported, being just slightly edged out of second place in the final betting, before doing much more than \u2018just edging out\u2019 her opponents when it mattered. <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Merry Turfmas<\/B> came into this race, having run a creditable second behind <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Alayaya<\/B> in the <I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">G1-Sexy Muffins<\/I> at her most recent run. (Perhaps she forced that runner to work too hard, as connections look for reasons for her dismal effort this week in <st1:State w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Queensland<\/st1:place><\/st1:State>). Anyway, this was to be the week of the <I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Galileo<\/I> five year old, as she adds this Graded trophy to that of the <I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">G2-Trash Can<\/I>, which she secured four starts back.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = \"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office\" \/><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\">As expected, <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Crushing Ignorance<\/B> won the jump and had no competition for the early ascendancy. <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Game Girl <\/B>landed a clear second early, with<B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"> Monsun JR CB, Etrusca, Faux Pas <\/B>settling together, just ahead of <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Blue Pak<\/B> and <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Otto Arc<\/B>. Just a length and a half separated second and seventh at the first call. <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Running Scared<\/B> was up with that group. <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Joint Effort<\/B> not far away, with <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Grand Ridge, Merry Turfmas<\/B> and <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Dubawi Quest<\/B> jostling for cover towards the rear. <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Multiple Maniac<\/B> had surrendered the pole advantage and <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Wishing Well G<\/B> was more than content to let the field scramble for positions ahead of her.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\">There were no significant changes in running order for the first half mile or so, with <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Crushing Ignorance<\/B> setting up a comfortable lead of almost four lengths from <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Game Girl<\/B> and <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Monsun JR CB<\/B>, while the backmarker, <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Wishing Well G<\/B>, was giving away more than a dozen lengths. Half a mile from home, and the race was on in earnest. <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Game Girl<\/B> was first to surrender. <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Monsun JR CB<\/B> was asked for an effort, but was only holding ground. None of the early frontrunners could make any forward moves and while <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Crushing Ignorance<\/B> looked to be traveling kindly, there was movement from the rear, as <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Grand Ridge, Merry Turfmas, Multiple Maniac<\/B> and <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Wishing Well G<\/B> began making impressive runs.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\">But into the stretch and <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Crushing Ignorance<\/B> was immediately under pressure. <I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Gosset<\/I> had timed the run on <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Merry Turfmas<\/B> to perfection, taking over not long after straightening. <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Wishing Well G<\/B> was working home even faster, but had given away too big a start. <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Grand Ridge<\/B> never looked a likely winner, but was closing the race out solidly.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\">Down to the wire, it was <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Merry Turfmas<\/B> by a comfortable two and a quarter lengths.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Wishing Well G<\/B> did more than enough to make this writer look foolish, in finishing a clear second.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Grand Ridge<\/B> worked home well, eventually beaten four and a half<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Crushing Ignorance <\/B>did not show her usual fight, surrendering once collared.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Multiple Mainiac <\/B>(I\u2019ll spell it right this time)<B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"> <\/B>made good ground from the rear for the final check<B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">. <\/B><SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Monsun JR CB <\/B>ran an even race, just fading in the run home.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Otto Arc <\/B>looked a chance of paying expenses as they turned for home, but couldn\u2019t hold the closers out<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Joint Effort, Running Scared<\/B> and <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Blue Pak<\/B> all raced midfield before wilting<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Etrusca<\/B> used up too much gas keeping in touch early.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Faux Pas <\/B>was up there, but faded. A disappointing effort from the punter\u2019s elect.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Game Girl<\/B> kept the leader honest early, but that effort took its toll.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Dubawi Quest<\/B> was spent early and pulled up distressed.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Merry Turfmas<\/B> is a four year old daughter of <I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Galileo <\/I>from <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">La Run<\/B><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"> (Machiavellian \/ Run The Gauntlet)<\/I>.<I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"> <SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0<\/SPAN><\/I>This was her ninth win from twenty five runs, and lifts her earnings above $550k. She ran the eight and a half furlongs in 1.41.6, returning a speed rating of 108. Previous rated # 28 in her division, this Graded win elevates her to # 15. <\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Cheadle<\/B> is a member of \u201c<I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Desperado Stables<\/I>\u201d, a 13 barn conglomerate supporting <I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">GR Simsters<\/I>. <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Merry Turfmas <\/B>is a stablemate of an old favorite, million dollar earner <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Moneygrowsontrees<\/B> (<I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Forestry<\/I>), as well as six figure earners <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Improv<\/B> (<I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Distorted Humor<\/I>) and <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Desperado Blues<\/B> (<I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Dixieland Band<\/I>). <\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><U>At the Window:<\/U><\/B> <SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0<\/SPAN>Wipeout! No prizes for second, while our \u2018exotics\u2019 runners finished fourth and fifth <\/P><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Merry Turfmas Adds to the Trophy Cabinet<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":261,"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-7330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7330","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\/261"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7330"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7330\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7330"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7330"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7330"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}