The Dwyer (Grade 3)- $400.000 Purse
BEL- For Three Year Olds
One Mile on the Dirt
July 8, 2017

The 14th running of the Dwyer at BEL had a strong field, and in the end, Clash Study comes out on top. At face value, that’s already an impressive statement, but this victory seems a little more special then just this one race. The victory was his fifth in a row, a streak that began modestly in the optional claiming ranks, and each race thereafter was a step forward in class and in distance up until his graded debut in his last race. After winning the Grade 2 Stephens, trainer Smokey Stover moved him into the Dwyer, and increased his distance here to the full mile. Clash Study had a great race, but was wide most of the way, so the victory was never easy. Despite that wide lane, he was pulling away at the end, leading the trainer to comment after the race that he wants to continue to stretch him out. Seems like a winning plan! This win then, is an impressive Grade 3 win at BEL, but also puts him in the conversation of being one of the top BC Dirt Mile contenders. Though may there be a bigger plan then that in store? Let’s see what happens in the next few months. For now, we congratulate Smokey Stover on his first win in the stake. Jockey J R Leparoux wins it for the second time, having also done so in 2014. The time of the win was 1:34.75, let’s look at how it played out!

(1/4 Mile- :22.92)- Surprisingly, it’s Socraties out on the lead early for Blushing Meadows as the three horses in the three outside posts get a good push to the lead. Socraties battles with John Henry’s Jolly Be Native early, before that one drops back and assumes a stalking position. Workingmanshero, the big longshot from Jerry Garcia Racing, was also with them early before he dropped back a couple lengths in the backstretch, to be fourth. Advancing to third with a nice and consistent start was Special Guy, from Axeman, who had a nice spot along the rail. In the middle of the field, the post-time favorite, Noble Crusader (Mb Stables) is on the rail with Mucho Cruncher (Aer Stables) right to his inside. They are approximately four lengths out of it. All Out Blitz (Mb Stables) is three wide on the backstretch, a half length behind them, and in the fourth lane, we see our eventual winner, Clash Study, from Smokey Stover. Wicked Wonder, from TwinTowersRacing, watches it all unfold in front of him.

(½ Mile- :46.21)- Socraties seems to be liking his chance to lead the field early, and is handling the challenge of Jolly Be Native quite well at this time of the race. Jolly Be Native pulls to his inside as they begin the move around the turn, and was within a quarter length at the half mile pole. Advancing to third here would be Mucho Cruncher, who was the most energetic mover of the field during the second quarter of the race, leaving Noble Crusader behind in what seemed to be a good idea at the time. He was a half length ahead of Special Guy and Workingmanshero, who were on each side of him. Noble Crusader was not showing us much yet, but seemed to be focused on finding a lane. All Our Blitz and Clash Study remained together, with Clash Study still four wide. Wicked Wonder was two lengths behind even them.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- Socraties handles the turn well, but as they approach the exit of the turn, the field is preparing to make their moves, and Socraties isn’t used to this, as he’s used to doing the catching. He tries to fend them off, but at the top of the stretch, you could almost call it a three way dead heat between he, Jolly Be Native, and Mucho Cruncher, with Workingmanshero a nose behind. Jolly Be Native gradually drew level, while Mucho Cruncher continued to run well, and made his move to the outside of Socraties. Workingmanshero did well to move up here as well. As fascinating as this was, all eyes were on Clash Study now. The power move that he made on exit of the turn and into the top of the stretch was very impressive, especially considering he was about five wide, entering the stretch. Clash Study seemed to make up about two lengths in the blink of an eye at this point. Special Guy was looking for a lane for his own run, and Noble Crusader seemed to be boxed in at the top of the stretch. All Out Blitz was well blocked at the line scrimmage here. Wicked Wonder had the best seat in the house to watch it all.

(Finish- 1:34.75)- Clash Study does everything he possibly can while running in the outside lane. For a little bit, it may have seemed like the very valiant efforts of Mucho Cruncher and Workingmanshero would be able to hold him off, but with a half furlong to go, Clash Study found an additional gear. For a horse increasing his distance for this race, that stretch desire was very impressive and likely plays a big reason in what seems to be the trainer’s plan to continue stretching him out. He wins by half a length! Workingmanshero, at 81/1, and Mucho Cruncher ran well to the wire and made it have to be a special effort in order for them to be passed. The longshot gets the nose in front to a create a nice exacta. Mucho Cruncher settles for third. The pacesetters, Jolly Be Native and Socraties, hung tough all the way to the end, and Jolly Be Native edges Socraties for the fourth place check. All Out Blitz was 6th, and nothing really wrong with his effort, either. Noble Crusader, the post time favorite, was not his best self today but even with that, he was only two lengths back, as he was a tad ahead of Special Guy. Wicked Wonder was outclassed.

About The Winner- Clash Study, trained by Smokey Stover and ridden by J R Leparoux, is a three year old gelding by Gsin, and out of Beyond The Stars. He was bred in California as a second quarter two year old by Team 7 Illusions, and acquired by Smokey Stover, via Downwind Stables, in private sales in late October 2016 for $190.000. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his seventh in 13 career starts, and his fifth win in a row. It is also his second graded win, and his career earnings now sit at $816.260.

Track: Fast
Time: :22⁴  :46¹  1:09⁴  1:34³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 4 – 8 Paid 428.90
$1 Trifecta: 4 – 8 – 2 Paid 1,211.30

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES