November 18, 2015

Sent off as the longest shot in the field, Lovely Lodge was clearly the best in the Grade II Bessarabian Stakes at WO on Sunday afternoon and sprinted clear to a two-length win, her first in a five-race campaign this season. A daughter of Grand Lodge, the sire of Travers winner Rahyesque and Grade III winner Living Dead Girl, she had been going in route races all year but cut back here and found her best in the lane en route to a 99-speed rating, easily the best of her career, and a huge $120.000 payday.

Marshed (2.60) was quickest into stride out of the WO chute in the Bessarabian with Lovely Lodge (15.25) holding the rail and Swimwear (2.50) taking back smartly in third and as the field sprinted past the opening two-furlongs in 23.18, everyone had a nice position. The leader tried to inch down to the rail as Mistress Bride (*0.75) moved three-wide into contention but heading to the far turn, it was still unclear as to which path would be the best to victory. With a half-mile up in 46.27, Marshed looked solid on the lead as Lovely Lodge angled out while forcing the hand of Swimwear and while the top stalkers looked to pounce, the former had all the momentum and sprinting forward at the head of the lane. Straight and strong with a furlong to run, Lovely Lodge took command under G Boulanger and rocketed away from her rivals and by the time she hit the wire, she was two-lengths in front of a game Swimwear, who was a length the best on Marshed and more than four-lengths clear of Mistress Bride, who did little as the favourite after breaking slowly.

Cutting back to a sprint distance for the first time all year was the trick for Lovely Lodge and she came through with her first win of the year in a sparkling final time, capping off what has been a solid season despite only five starts. If she chooses to race again, an event like the Rampart or the Sugar Swirl at GP would be suitable since they are at different distances but still allow her to keep up that momentum she now has in her favour.

Congratulations goes out to owner Diablo Diablo and their five-year-old mare Lovely Lodge, a going-away winner of the Grade II Bessarabian at WO!

Prediction            Swimwear / Marshed / Mistress Bride

Winner                 Lovely Lodge

                                Five-year-old chestnut mare

                                Grand Lodge-Lovely Report (Auto-Generated)

Owner                   Diablo Diablo

Time                       23.18, 46.27, 1:10.06, 1:22.16

Overall

Lovely Lodge        15.25 stalked inside, angled out, clear late

Swimwear              2.50 pressed, no match for winner

Marshed                 2.60 set good splits, tired in lane

Mistress Bride      *0.75 no threat

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES