Sweet Life Stakes (Grade 3)- $100.000 Purse
SA- For Fillies Three Years Old
Six Furlongs on the Turf
February 14, 2021
Peppermint Crush came into the Sweet Life with a successful record, but was also making her stake debut. Against more experienced foes in this race who had done so, it wasn’t that she was overlooked, but more a case of bettors favoring other options. At 13/1, her payouts might not have been enough for someone to start living the sweet life, but they did allow those who supported her to upgrade their dinner plans. This is a well bred filly that was making just her sixth start in this race, so we’ll be seeing a lot more from her, we’d imagine. Allinthegate is the winning trainer and does so for the first time. J J Hernandez becomes the first jockey not named Mario Gutierrez to win the race. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was an impressive 1:07.48. It’s the first time that the race was run at six furlongs, so it cannot be compared to anything. Let’s take a look!
(¼ Mile- :22.71)- Leading the field down the downhill portion of the race to start it is Bonito Partido Rene, not Bonito Partido Babe who we alluded to her as in the preview. Apologies to trainer Martyparty. Summers Day is second, a length behind her for First Street Stables, and within a length on the rail is Vienna Starks, from Sans Bois Stables. Tea For Two sits in the middle of the field for Keikowin Racing, a length ahead of the eventual winner, Allinthegate’s Peppermint Crush. She’ll have Rodeo Moon (Alydar Stables) within a length to her inside and Command This One (Waldo) in a similar position on the outside. Post time favorite Impact Party Pride (Martyparty) is a length and a half further back and Hgh As A Kite (Jive Inc) has yet to begin flight.
(½ Mile- :44.93, Top Of Stretch, 1.8F To Go)- Bonito Paritdo Rene looks very good during the downhill, but as they make it to the front stretch, those who had been stalking her begin making their move. Now, it is three wide for the race lead with Summers Day and Vienna Stark hoping to take control of the race in the stretch. Tea For Two had sat just behind the leaders for the whole race, and she is still doing so, a length or so back and in a prime striking position. Peppermint Crush had not yet begun her move to the front, as she was still in the fifth position and two lengths off the lead. She still had plenty of time, as did Command This One and Rodeo Moon, who remained on each side of her. Impact Party Pride and Hgh As A Kite needed to get moving if they want to make an impact.
(Finish- 1:07.48)- With a furlong to go, Vienna Stark did very well to push through along the rail and was looking pretty good. She was half a length ahead of Summers Day now, and Bonito Partido Rene was dropping off. Tea For Two drifted out about 4-5 wide. A gap would open Peppermint Crush to come on through, but she needed to do it now. J J Hernandez realized this and urged his filly to capitalize. Peppermint Crush would do so, making her best run in the closing moments, and becoming a part of a tight five-way photo for the victory. In the end, it would be the 13/1 shot getting a head in front of her rivals to score the Sweet Life win! Summers Day found her way by Vienna Stark, who began to tire late, for the second position. Rodeo Moon made a valiant charge to get the fourth place check. Fifth goes to Command This One, who’s jockey, M E Smith, struggled to find a lane in for the closing moments before settling on the rail. Tea For Two seemed destined better, but didn’t respond in the stretch, placing sixth. Bonito Partido Rene tires to seventh, ahead of Impact Party Pride and Hgh As A Kite, who were complete non-factors.
About The Winner- Peppermint Crush, trained by Allinthegate and ridden to victory by J J Hernandez, is a three year old filly by Compress and is out of Peppermint Command. She was bred in New York by Allinthegate as a first quarter two year old, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her third in six starts, and her first stake win of any type. Her career earnings are now $119.660.
Track: Firm
Time: :223 :444 :56 1:072
$2 Mutuel Prices:
$1 Exacta: 5 – 2 Paid 472.40
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 2 – 1 Paid 360.60
Scratched: None
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
