December 1, 2015

A very good field of three-year-old fillies took to the AQU main track for one of the final big races of the year and in the end, the Grade III Comely came down to the power of proven Grade I commodity Google Maps over the up-and-coming talent of Eviction, as the former ran away from her rivals for a one-length score. A winner of the SA Oaks early in the season, and Grade I placed after that, she found this level to her liking in taking her fourth win of the season and now boasts more than $750.000 in career earnings, not quite as much as her sire Five Spirits but now, the best of his offspring.

While the early scratch of The Reaper closed the odds down to a tight race, it was vast longshot Iron Bay (70.15) who took the early lead in the Comely while Ancient Royalty (7.40) dropped well off the pace and as the field moved around the first turn, everyone had a nice place to hold their position. Google Maps (2.10) took up the running three-wide as Unsecured (4.75) fell back into a midpack position and down the backstretch, the leader was 2.5-lengths clear and going comfortably up front. The first marker came up in a solid 48.07 and Iron Bay was evening out her stride, which allowed Google Maps to engage her and Lingerie Fantasy (3.55) to come up the inside rail and with four-furlongs to run, it looked like the leader was in trouble with her more experienced rivals breathing down on her. Six-panels came up in a quickening 1:11.96 and that was all she wrote for Iron Bay, as she gave it up to Google Maps with Lingerie Fantasy trying to find a way through and Eviction (*2.00) poised to pounce on the outside. As the field swung into the lane, only 4.5-lengths separated first to last but Google Maps was in full command and as her rivals marched wide, she took an inside path to the wire and held everyone at bay by a length, with Eviction getting up for second over an even Lingerie Fantasy. Unsecured fell off the pace early and could not recover enough in fourth, Ancient Royalty was unable to quicken late while very wide, and Iron Bay came up empty in the lane but will improve with the experience and could be a nicer filly at the age of four.

A multiple Graded Stakes winner who set the pace in the BC Distaff before fading to finish fifth, Google Maps came right back in the Grade III Comely and proved herself to be one of the best three-year-old fillies once again with a simplistic victory over some very good rivals. That will most likely conclude her season and we look forward to her returning at four, especially if she ships back to Southern California for a series of races like the Santa Maria and the Santa Margarita.

Congratulations goes out to owner Aml Racing and their three-year-old filly Google Maps, a solid winner of the Grade III Comely at AQU!

Winner                     Google Maps

                                   Three-year-old gray filly

                                    Five Spirits-Risky Investment (Sadlers Wells)

Owner                      Aml Racing

Time                          48.07, 1:11.96, 1:36.04, 1:48.49

Overall

Google Maps            2.10 stalked leader, sprinted clear, with ease

Eviction                      *2.00 behind rivals, angled wide, up for second

Lingerie Fantasy     3.55 rail run, failed to menace late

Unsecured                 4.75 between horses, no late gains

Ancient Royalty       7.40 dropped back, mild rally

Iron Bay                     70.15 set pace, faded through field

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES