The FL Sire Stakes- Susan ($200.000 Purse)
GP- For Fillies Two Years Old Foaled in FL
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
August 29, 2020

For the FL Sire Stakes- Susan, bettors locked their choices affirmatively into two options: Illusive Motives and Take On Me, and they were our top two picks in the preview. A rainy day throughout the country would not persuade many to bet on a longshot, and that proved to be the right choice, as Illusive Motives won in convincing fashion, taking the race by three lengths. She is trained by Smokey Stover, and he wins this race for the first time. This is also true for jockey J Rendon. Congratulations to them! The time of the victory in the mud was 1:25.40. Let’s take a look at it. Note that Stick Together would not live up to his name, and left the field as a late scratch.

(¼ Mile- :23.50)- Splashing her way to the front, Tiny Dancer heads out to a length lead for Threshold with two stalkers right behind her. Lannys All In, from South Beach Racing has a head in front of the extra-large longshot, Champagne D Oro, who is trained by Fractious. Take On Me runs fourth for Mb Stables; and at about the time they hit a quarter mile, she begins to pursue a third lane in hopes of moving by Lannys All In and Champagne D Oro. Running fifth, with no worries is the eventual winner, as well as being our pick to win, is Illusive Motives from Smokey Stover. She has a little over three lengths to make up, and the trailing Liza Doolittle Day, from Arindel, is within a length from her.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Tiny Dancer remained in front of the field down the backstretch, and into the turn. Inching closer to her with every stride would be Take On Me as she took advantage of the third lane to pull three wide of Lannys All In and Champagne D Oro, two horses that were content to hold their positions at this time. By the exit of the turn, Tiny Dancer could not keep up with them, and Take On Me took on a slim lead. The two running to her inside tried to run with her and make their own moves in the stretch. Meanwhile, Illusive Motives had a steady trip around the turn, and looked to go four wide in the stretch, pulling to be within a length of the front herself. Liza Doolittle Day hoped to make a similar five wide run.

(Finish- 1:25.40)- It would be no contest in the stretch as Illusive Motives takes control of the race, breezing by her rivals and pulling away to big three length victory in the process. Those hoping for the cheapie exacta between the favorites will be disappointed that Take On Me was passed by Champagne D Oro late in the stretch as Take On Me struggled in the waning moments. Lannys All In is a steady fourth. For Liza Doolittle Day, that five wide move never materialized, and she only beats the fatigued Tiny Dancer.

About The Winner- Illusive Motives, trained by Smokey Stover and ridden to victory by J Rendon is a two year old filly by Neon Wolf, and is out of Born To Dance. She was bred in Florida by Smokey Stover as a yearling and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her second in four starts, and her first stake win. Her career earnings are now $165.800.

Track: Muddy
Time: :23²  :47³  1:12³  1:25²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 5 – 1 Paid 464.60
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 1 – 7 Paid 241.50

— NS

Scratched: Stick Together(L)

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded