The Maid of The Mist- $250.000 Purse
BEL- For Fillies Two Years Old Foaled in NY
One Mile on the Dirt
October 21, 2017

After enjoying the thrill of Ginger Haggis’ fantastic run last year, many wonder if the sire, Zyzoxolus will continue to produce more great foals of that quality. While there have been some other steady foals, Zyzoxolus, part of the Charley Farley line, still has to show that there can be more where Ginger Haggis came from. Maybe, Nuns Unite can be that foal. She does not have to produce to the same lofty standards, but her career has gotten off to a great start as she picked up her third win in eight starts, and her first win, here in the Maid Of The Mist. She edges out Creeparella, and it looks like these two could have a budding rivalry which will allow for more great Nuns vs Creeps types headlines in the future. It is the first win in the stake for both the trainer, The Sidley Stud, and the jockey, J L Ortiz. Congratulations to them! The time of the victory was 1:36.09, the third quickest in the history of the stake.

(1/4 Mile- :23.45)- After a momentary challenge from Couldnt Tell, it is a Creeparella who emerges with early advantage, for D J C Racing Stables. It looked like she might pull out by a length or two, but Couldnt Tell, from Mb Stables, does come back at her very shortly after hitting this marker. In a stalking position, running side by side, are Smoothie (Team 7 Illusions) and Wavy (Mb Stables), with Cherokee Girl (Team 7 Illusions) another half length back while on the rail. The eventual winner, Nuns Unite, runs sixth, and is three and a half lengths out of it while Asgar’s Phunny Devil is the trailer.

(½ Mile- :46.96)- Couldnt Tell now takes over the lead, doing so while on the back stretch. Running into the turn, she will have a half length advantage on Creeparella, who is continuing to run well. Otherwise, we do not see much difference in the running of the race over this segment, so let’s move forward.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.8F To Go)- While on the lead, Couldnt Tell is handling the turn about as strongly as we saw Zombie City do it in the Sleepy Hollow a race earlier. Creeparella is more capable of running with her, and these to emerge at the top of the stretch as the ones to beat. Everyone was looking good at this point, though. Initially, it looked like Wavy would be the most ambitious of the three who assumed the stalking trip, but she would give way to both Cherokee Girl and Smoothie as the two Team 7 Illusions entries were gaining ground. Phunny Devil looked like she was preparing for an outside move. Nuns Unite actually looked to be in the toughest spot here, as she seemed like she was going to get boxed in for the stretch. Something was going to have to give for her.

(Finish- 1:36.09)- Nuns Unite would see her prayers be answered in the stretch as just enough of an opening emerged between Smoothie and Wavy for her to capitalize on. Fortunately for her, Wavy, who for some reason was heavily bet and the post-time favorite, began to tire. As neither Couldnt Tell nor Creeparella were able to find an additional gear for the stretch, Nuns United was able to gain ground with every stride, and make the pass for the win far easier then I had anticipated. Creeparella and Couldnt Tell will dead heat for second. Behind them, neither of the Team 7 Illusions horses were able to turn it up a notch for the stretch either, and end up as Smoothie fourth and Cherokee Girl fifth. Phunny Devil and the overbet Wavy round it out.

About The Winner– Nuns Unite, trained by The Sidley Stud, and ridden by J L Ortiz, is a two year old filly by Zyzoxolus, and out of Unity. She was bred in New York by her The Sidley Stud, the only trainer for which she has ever known. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her third victory in eight starts and her first stake win.

Track: Fast
Time: :23²  :46⁴  1:10³  1:36

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 3 – 5 Paid 67.70, 3 – 6 Paid 23.20
$1 Trifecta: 3 – 5 – 6 Paid 273.20, 3 – 6 – 5 Paid 273.20

Scratched: Like A Hurricane

Exacta Boxed (3-5) and Trifecta (Boxed) Picked by NS

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded