The Flower Bowl (Grade 1) (BC)- $375.000 Purse
BEL- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Quarter on the Inner Turf
October 10, 2020

While the Frizette might have been more difficult to predict, we were a headbob away from picking the entire superfecta in the Flower Bowl. This race for older females goes a long way in determining who will be in the BC Fillies and Mares Turf next month, and it would be a thriller. At the wire, it would be Pirate Petranella, owned by Diablo Diablo, getting the win ever so slightly over Holualoa, switching our top two picks from the preview. Third and fourth went as projected, being Fomaulhaut and Never Enough. For Diablo Diablo, it is his first win in the Flower Bowl, preventing Smokey from winning it two years in a row. J Stein, the winning rider, also gets his first Flower Bowl. The race went in a time of 1:58.82, the second quickest in the history of the race (to Warbling in 2012). Let’s take a look!

1st- 8- Pirate Petranella (Diablo Diablo) (10/1)- Our eventual winner broke well out of the gate and looked like she might run with the early leader, Trippi Tip Toe, but then decides to back off of that. Restrained just enough to be fourth after half a mile, two lengths back. During the backstretch, she is content to stalk the front runners, as no one in the field is looking to make any sort of move behind her. Entering the turn, we start to see her getting a little more ambitious. This is where she ran quite well, and she would carry this momentum into the stretch, pulling a head in front of Fomalhaut but those two were still running well, too. It would be a thrilling three way battle all the way to the wire, and just when it looked like Holualoa was going to get her, Pirate Petranella showed tremendous heart to battle, and perseveres to the victory!

2nd- 3- Holualoa (Smokey Stover) (3/2)- Nothing wrong with her start, but she is not quite as ambitious as some of the others. Content to ride near the middle of the field, even with Pennies for the fifth spot after a quarter mile. Advances within the turn to be within a couple lengths, and makes a steady advance on the leader. At the top of the stretch, she was within half a length. Runs very well in the stretch, and seemed to do everything in her power to get the win. Looked like she might have it, but will have to settle for second here.

3rd- 10- Fomalhaut (John Henry) (15/1)- Starts well, running just off the lead around the turn, but pushes forward as they approach the backstretch and takes the top spot after half a mile. Held on to her lead after completing the backstretch trip, in what was a pretty uneventful part of the race. She would not lose any of her speed within the turn, and continued to look like a strong contender, but would concede the lead to Pirate Petranella at the top of the stretch. She did not go away, and would continue to go at it with these two. It looked like she was starting to come back on them and who knows if there were a few more strides left if it would have been her coming back for the win.

4th- 5- Never Enough (Mb Stables) (7/1)- Ran near the back early on, holding the ninth position, six lengths off the lead while running in the third lane. For a while, she did have a clear lane to advance if she wished too. This would be her game plan, using that lane, to advance that position, becoming the lead horse of the second group of six, and then continuing to advance her position. She was running well, but this was beginning to look like a race that would not be kind to the off the pace runner. Got close late, and gets a small portion of the purse to show for it.

5th- 1- Pennies (Arindel) (11/1)- Got off to a decent start on the rail, holding her spot and running in the middle of the field in the beginning portion of the race. About three lengths off the after a quarter mile. Held her ground in the turn, but once others in the field began to find a little more for the stretch, Pennies seemed to be out of change for the stretch and did not have an added burst of speed. Did not run poorly, but did not threaten for a to four spot.

6th- 6- Bagina (Chili King Stables) (7/1)- Next to last early, and would look to run along the rail. Continued to run here for much of the turn, and even entering the top of the stretch, she had a lot of work to do, and a lot of horses to pass. Made a valiant effort, but this was not a race to be a closer. Settles for sixth.

7th- 4- Why You Do That (Mb Stables) (18/1)- Towards the back early on, running alongside her stablemate as these two had a similar start to the race. However, that would change entering the turn as when Never Enough picked it up, Why You Do That may have been saying that to her before realizing she should begin running, too. Eventually, she would, but it started too late.

8th- 9- Cest And Me (D J C Racing Stables) (23/1)- The longshot started decently, but did not run with the lead group, instead being the first horse of the second group. There was a bit of a gap between the first six and the next six early on, and Cest And Me led that next group. Would not benefit from being in that position, and began looking like a non factor entering the top of the stretch.

9th- 11- Trippi Tip Toe (Gdp Inc) (13/1)- Quickest out of the starting gate, and leads the field into the turn. Concedes the lead to Fomalhaut just as they enter the backstretch, but is still second. Unable to keep running with them, but hangs on a little bit longer within the turn before packing it in for the stretch.

10th- 7- Mean On The Green (Team 7 Illusions) (53/1)- She would be your early trailer, with seven and a half lengths to make up on the leader after a quarter mile. Remained there within the turn, and does nothing but pass a couple others who tired out.

11th- 12- Fixes (Maxmillion Farm) (9/1)- Smooth start from the outside, and remains with the top group around the first turn, and runs third entering the backstretch. Stayed on the outside for the backstretch, but the trip did her eventually and she dropped out of it.

12th- 2- Smart Queen (Night Rider Stables) (44/1)- Started out in the middle of the field, running along the rail, to the inside of Cest And Me early. However, midway through the turn it just looked like she was not up to racing today, and would not beat anyone.

About The Winner- Pirate Petranella, trained by Diablo Diablo and ridden to victory by J Stein is a three year old filly by Sneaky Little Pirate, and is out of In Z Balance. She was bred in California by Diablo Diablo as a yearling, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The reigning BC Juvenile Fillies Turf winner has now won six out of 15 starts, with four being graded. Her career earnings are now $1,228.890.

Track: Firm
Time: :47   1:10¹  1:34¹  1:58⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 8 – 3 Paid 28.80
$1 Trifecta: 8 – 3 – 10 Paid 2,122.40

Scratched: Concordia

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES