The Suwannee River (Grade 3)- $150.000 Purse
GP- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Turf
February 10, 2018

The Suwannee River seemed like a tough race to pick as several looked to be making it a tune up for bigger things in 2018. Perhaps then, I should have looked harder at one of those that has steadily moved up the ranks. That would be Hide N Seek Pup, a five year old mare out of Gdp Inc. I feel I missed this one, because usually this is the type of horse I include as one of my picks. Oh well, she still went off at 7/2, so a lot of people still believed in her. She has no bigger believer then her trainer, Gdp Inc, who wins the race for the first time in his career, and the same is true for the jockey, L H Colon. The time of the win was 1:45.99, the third quickest in the history of the stake. Let’s take a look at it!

(½ Mile- :47.51)- The quickest out of the gate in this race would be Geeks In Spain, from Nakamura Stables, who jumps out to the length advantage heading into the opening turn, and he carries that lead as the backstretch run begins. Right behind him is Born From Mrs Z, from Mb Stables, who also breaks well and is happy to stay a length or so out of it. Fellow Z, In Z Balance (Diablo Diablo) ran with her a little initially, but backed off around the turn, and into the fourth position. The steady and consistent start of our race winner, Hide N Seek Pup, for Gdp Inc on the rail allowed her to be third, and almost three lengths out of it. Towards the back, Nothing Given (Our Athletes) and Shoot The Moon (TwinTowersRacing) weren’t interested in the early pace, and the trailer Royal Times (Maxmillion Farm) seemed to be restrained almost immediately from the gate.

(3/4 Mile- 1:10.71)- The field has a rather uneventful trip down the backstretch. Geeks In Spain continues to lead, though things to start to show signs of tightening up as they hit the top of the turn. Born From Mrs Z closes in somewhat, but its Hide N Seek Pup who cuts into the lead by about a length and seems like she’s positioning herself to make a move in the turn. Nothing much going on behind them, except for Royal Times catching Shoot The Moon and the very back.

(Top Of Stretch- 1.5F To Go)- Geeks In Spain was not giving up the rail for Hide N Seek Pup, so while the stewards were closing their eyes and counting to 20, Hide N Seek Pup came down hard on Born From Mrs Z, to nudge her out of the lane that she wanted. Accomplishing that task, Hude N Seek Pup was pulling up along the outside of Geeks In Spain for the stretch run. Born From Mrs Z was still in the mix, but being pushed over maybe took some wind out of her sails. Meanwhile, In Z Balance was coming on strong while in the 4th lane, as she was able to keep herself out of trouble. She looked full of run as well. The others were non-factors.

(Finish- 1:45.99)- At the top of the stretch, Hide N Seek Pup has no problem making the pass of Geeks In Spain, and took over the lead. In Z Balance was making a run for it, but her best could be no better then equaling the stride of Hide N Seek Pup. This allowed these two to pull away from everyone else, as Hide N Seek Pup wins by a length over In Z Balance. Geeks In Spain hung on well to be third, though Born From Mrs Z showed nothing in the stretch, although that was better then the back three of Nothing Given, Royal Times, and Shoot The Moon, who showed nothing throughout.

About The Winner: Hide N Seek Pup, trained by Gdp Inc and ridden by L H Colon, is a five year old mare by the late Dogs Ideal Son, and out of the late Hidden Princess. She was bred in Florida by Gdp Inc as a second quarter two year old, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her fifth in ten starts, and its her first stake win of any type. Her career earnings are now $154.870.

Track: Firm
Time: :47²  1:10³  1:34¹  1:45⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 2 Paid 41.50
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 2 – 6 Paid 76.00

Scratched: Good Line

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES