8/22/2020
7 DMR Pines Stakes (GIII)
$100.000 3yoF 1m Dirt 122lbs +penalties
My horses ran together, but third and fourth doesn’t cash many tickets. Instead, it was speed from the rail as Coconut Princess sat just behind the early pace, moved up to contend turning for home and got the job done by three-quarters of a length at 8/1 odds, giving Rampage Stable the trophy for the 2020 Pines Stakes (GIII), here at DMR. The final running time was 1:352 for the flat mile, over a fast track. Bite The Bullet, the 1.70 favorite, rallied late to grab the place, just a head in front of Chill Out.
The field loaded right at the finish line in this one-lap, flat mile stakes, and away in good order with Beldame on the early gas, Chill Out, Nut It Up, Coconut Princess from the rail and Honey Snake all showing early speed. Miss Pinnacle party from the inside, then the outside horses… Bite The Bullet, Indian Spear and Letters From Niagra was the early trailer.
Around the clubhouse turn and onto the backside, Beldame in front by a length and a half. Then the trio of Chill Out between horses, Nut It Up on her outside and Coconut Princess from the rail. Gap of two, Indian Spear caught four wide, then Miss Pinnacle Party on the rail, Honey Snake three side and Bite The Bullet between that pair, then a another two back to Letters From Niagra.
The field made their way down the backside without a log of change, they neared the far turn with slightly more than three furlongs to run and Beldame continued to show the way by a length and a half. Chill Out between horses, Coconut Princess continued to hug the rail, Nut It Up three wide. Another two and a half lengths back to Indian Spear three wide, Miss Pinnacle Party continuing to save ground with inside position and Bite The Bullet between them. Another two back to Honey Snake and Letters From Niagra could see them all.
Swing around the far turn and into the lane, the flew past the three-sixteenths pole and we had a horse race on our hands… Coconut Princess came off of the rail and moved up to look Beldame in the eye. Chill Out was three wide and giving chase, Nut It Up four wide and making it four across the track. Another length back to Miss Pinnacle Party, Indian Spear four wide, Letters From Niagra trying to get going and Honey Snake widest of all and last.
Inside the furlong marker… Coconut Princess in front by a length, two groups of four lined up behind her, but there was no catching Coconut Princess on this afternoon as she went under the wire in front by three quarters of a length. Bite The Bullet finished well for the place, out gaming Chill Out in third and Beldame in fourth. Letters From Niagra made a bit of a late push for fifth, Nut It Up sixth, Miss Pinnacle Party seventh, Honey Snake eighth and Indian Spear closed this one out.
Coconut Princess is a 3yo chestnut filly by Commercial Sis – Coconut Warrior, by Winter Warrior, and she was bred by her owner, Rampage Stable, here in Cal. This was her second win from nine starts, and she now shows $187.160 in earnings.
$2 Mutuel Prices:
| 1 – Coconut Princess | 18.00 | 7.00 | 3.10 |
| 7 – Bite The Bullet | 3.30 | 2.40 | |
| 3 – Chill Out | 3.30 |
Track: Fast Time: :231 :463 1:102 1:352
$1 Exacta: 1 – 7 Paid 21.60 $1 Trifecta: 1 – 7 – 3 Paid 122.30
Scratched: None
Coconut Princess saved ground with an inside run while racing just in behind the leader, moved to the two path turning for home, took over nearing the furlong marker, won driving. Bite The Bullet showed little interest early, moved up around the far turn, closed full of run, out finishing foes for the place. Chill Out sat just behind the pace, moved up to challenge into the lane, flattened out a bit late. Beldame broke alertly, set the pace to the furlong marker, tired. Letter From Niagra trailed, some late interest while not a threat. Nut It Up away well, set just behind the pace, tired. Miss Pinnacle Party saved ground to no avail. Honey Snake showed some early speed, tired. Indian Spear had a wide trip, tired.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
