SAR Oaks ($625.000 Purse)
SAR- For Fillies Three Years Old
One Mile and Three Sixteenths on the Turf
August 16, 2020

Smokey Stover is not one that is too scared to party. He is also not one that is afraid to make a sizable payment for a horse that he likes. Just two weeks ago, he put down $900.000 on a talented, though still up and coming filly. Now, he has recovered almost half of that in the SAR Oaks with Too Scared To Party. We’re sure there is plenty of celebrating in the barn after this good looking win where this heavy favorite went out and got the job done in convincing fashion. After this, you have to consider her a strong threat to pick up the points needed over the next couple months to be able to be a part of the BC Fillies and Mares Turf. For Smokey Stover and jockey M Tunon, it is their first win in this race, which has only run for the second time. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:52.55, slightly faster than last year. Let’s take a look!

(½ Mile- :47.48)- Walpurgis Night, out of Mb Stables, is an ambitious one of the starting gate, and jumps out to the lead as they move down the front stretch the first time. Once into the turn, she seems to back off just a little bit, remaining content to have a length advantage on her two closest competitors. Anna D, from Night Mare Racing, was good from the gate as well, but did not challenge Walpurgis Night for the lead, and would stalk the leader into the clubhouse turn, with the company of the Nakamura Stables-trained Hollywood Phooey to her inside. Going back about two more lengths, we will find our eventual winner, Smokey Stover’s Too Scared To Party. She would run on the rail, and for this moment, did not have anyone right alongside her. The closest one to her was Arindel’s Mrs Nussbaums Credit, who was a length behind her, and then another half length to Raw Sugar (Mb Stables). Lucky Greek (Langley Farms) ran at the back all by herself, seven lengths from the lead.

(¾ Mile- 1:10.90)- At the front, no one is challenging Walpurgis Night, so she is allowed to maintain her length advantage over Anna D. It was starting to look like Anna D was getting geared up for a run at the top of the turn. Meanwhile, Too Scared To Party needed to come off the rail in order to avoid running into the back of Hollywood Phooey, who was losing her momentum. Mrs Nussbaums Credit was courteous and cooperated by moving down a lane herself. Too Scared To Party began to make some progress on the leader, now running just two and a half length as the fans in attendance waited for her to run like a 2/5 favorite should. Mrs Nussbaums Credit seemed like she would be a strong challenger as well. Raw Sugar did not respond with her own advance here, and Lucky Greek continued to spot the leaders seven lengths.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- While running in the turn, Too Scared To Party confidently moved forward while running in the third lane, but Anna D was going to run right with her. At the top of the stretch then, these two were side by side as they moved around the pacesetting Walpurgis Night. Mrs Nussbaums Credit ran in the fourth lane, but lost some ground to Too Scared To Party. Raw Sugar was not getting involved still, and Hollywood Phooey packed it in. Lucky Greek was now under five lengths from the front, but at this point was likely only running for third, tops.

(Finish- 1:52.55)- It seemed as though there would be a good stretch battle between Too Scared To Party and Anna D, but only one of them was up to the task. In the final furlong, particularly, Too Scared To Party was much the best, and put away Anna D with ease, going on to win this race by two lengths. It was another length and a half to the third place Mrs Nussbaums Credit, so indeed this was an impressive looking win, and a statement made by Too Scared To Party. Walpurgis Night tired to fourth, as neither Raw Sugar nor Lucky Greek got involved at any point. The gassed Hollywood Phooey is last.

About The Winner- Too Scared To Party, trained by Smokey Stover, and ridden to victory by M Tunon, is a three year old filly by Pinnacle West, and is out of Scaredy Cat. She was bred in West Virginia as a third quarter two year old by Martyparty, and acquired by Smokey Stover two weeks ago in private sales for $900.000. The win is her fifth in nine starts, and her third stake win. Her career earnings are now $712.530.

Track: Firm
Time: :47²  1:10⁴  1:34³  1:52²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 4 Paid 5.80
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 4 – 7 Paid 24.50

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded