NY Stallion Series- Liberty ($100.000 Purse)
SAR- For Three Year Old Fillies Foaled in NY
One Mile on the Inner Turf
August 13, 2015

Australia Wide is back, folks.   Earlier on Thursday, the legendary trainer earned a victory with his filly, How Funny in the Liberty Stakes, part of the New York Stallion Series.    He’s already picked up a handful of big wins since his return, but his work with this filly shows why he is one of the best to ever play our game.  First, his nose for talent, picking her up via a $7.500 claim when not many other people were noticing her, and then putting her in a stake immediately.  The Mount Vernon saw an increase of 10 points with her SRF ranking, and as good as that was it seemed as though she needed to improve a little more to be able to win this race.  That is where you never count Australia Wide out, because he did indeed improve the horse just enough to get that victory.    It is the first win for the trainer in the Libery, as well as for the S X Bridgmohan.  Let’s take a deeper look at it!

1st- 1- How Funny (4/1)- Our eventual race winner from Australia Wide was content to let the leaders do their own thing, riding along in the back early on.  This was in contrast to her first race with the trainer, when she was sent out to the lead early.  As they hit the top of the final turn, S X Bridgmohan told his filly that it was “go time”, and moved her into a four-wide positon.   She was able to pass the back three horses without too much trouble, and could set her sights on the pace setters.  In the outside-most lane she would get by Shadowlass and Raquette Lake, but it wasn’t quite certain if she was going to have enough to catch Angelinas Bankroll.  In the final half furlong, How Funny was at her best and would complete the pass that would send her to the winner’s circle!  The time of the win was 1:33.53, and that my friends, is a new record for the Liberty Stakes.  Congratulations on that feat!  How Funny is a three year old filly by Forceful Crisis (by Spanish Force) and out of Sister Chip (by Wild Chippy).  She was bred in New York by Mb Stables though never raced for him, having been sold for $65.000 in private sales as an unraced two year old.   She raced for times for Downwind Stables before Australia Wide made his fateful claim.  Congratulations to all the connections!

2nd- 3- Angelinas Bankroll (15/1)- The longest shot on the board from Night Rider Stables got off to a good start, but may have wisely been backed off just a little tiny bit in the turn.  Moved up a little bit in the backstretch in a three-wide position.  As she approached the turn, she had drawn level with Raquette Lake, and was destined to take the lead.  At the top of the stretch, she was looking sharp, moving past Shadowlass, but How Funny was coming from behind.  She would make her earn the pass and put together a pretty surprising run and created some good wagering payouts.

3rd- 7- Grey Wind (5/2)- The Drabfantasy filly chose a racing style similar to her last race, electing to run with How Funny at the back of the pack.  I Ortiz Jr moved her up a little bit during the backstretch run to a more midpack position.  Did not advance as quickly in the turn as did How Funny, and to a point, she had to wait for her to pass before she could make a move of her own.  She made her move to the inside of Angelinas Bankroll, and got up just in time for the third position.

4th- 5- Shadowlass (2/1)- Our pre-race pick as well as the betting favorite from Canadian Racing got off to a good start, taking the lead into the opening the turn and setting the quarter mile fraction in a steady :23.55, and picked it up, with the half in :46.95.  In the stretch, I don’t want to say that she was poor because that would be a little unfair.  It was more of a case of simply not having anything left in the tank at the time in which the others were at their best.  Seemed to put in her best effort.

5th- 6- Raquette Lake (6/1)- The Night Mare Racing filly got off to a good start, choosing to race alongside Shadowlass into the opening turn.  Continued to run alongside the pacesetter even with that one picking up the pace a little, throughout the backstretch run.  Once Angelinas Bankroll passed her for second, Raquette Lake was out of gas, but didn’t completely back out of it.

6th- 2- Bombshell (6/1)- The Second Chance Farms entry was midpack in the early going.     She didn’t look comfortable to me when they hit the top of the backstretch, and although she eventually seemed to regroup, this cost her a length or two.  Gradually lost ground over the course of the second half of the race, and was never a factor.

7th- 4- Fem Fatale (14/1)- Quickest of them all out of the gate for Hambletonian Stable, though J L Ortiz quickly opted to have her in more of a stalking position.   About midway through the backstretch, Fem Fatale lost touch with the leaders, and eventually everyone else.

Track: Firm
Time: :23²  :46⁴  1:09⁴  1:33²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 3 Paid 138.80
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 3 – 7 Paid 292.90

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Ungraded