My Trusty Cat ($100.000 Purse)
DED- For Fillies Two Years Old
One Mile on the Dirt
November 19, 2021

Last night, a field of six up and coming fillies took part in the My Trusty Cat, hoping to get a win that could help propel them to running in bigger and better races. When they hit the wire, we would have two horses getting the win as yet another stake race ends up in a dead heat. Sharing the victory would be the post time favorite, Chopstick, running for Aer Stables, and the second longest shot on the board, Barbara Eden, who breaks her maiden in the unconventional way for Mental Bloch Racing. Congratulations to both of them as each win the My Trusty Cat for the first time. Chopstick was ridden by T Thronton and Barbara Eden by R Eikleberry, who also pick up their first wins. The time of the race was 1:35.77. It was the first time this race ran at a mile, so we cannot compare the time to anything. Also note that Cosmo Belle, listed as our second choice behind Chopstick, was a late scratch. Let’s take a look!

(¼ Mile- :23.54)- Our first co-winner, Barbara Eden, jumps out to the early lead for Mental Bloch racing, much like she normally does. She has a length and a half advantage over Nakamura Stables- trained Tell The Queen. That one also runs by herself for now, leading Believe In Miracles, from TwinTowersRacing, by a length as that filly runs on the rail. The remaining three initially ran three wide but eventually Bye Bye Felice (D J C Racing Stables) tries to pull away from them. Our other co-winner, Aer Stables- owned Chopstick is able to stay within a length to her inside. There are about four lengths separating our dead heat winners at this point. Falling Homily is at the back for D J C Racing Stables, but within 4-5 lengths.

(½ Mile- :47.10)- Around the turn we go, and Barbara Eden is extending her lead to two lengths and does not seem to be overdoing it with these fractions. Tell The Queen was not able to keep up with her, but no one else would take advantage and look to get around her for the second position. Believe In Miracles would have figured to be the best one to do so, but she also lost a little bit of ground, putting herself into being the inside horse of a three wide group. The other horses there were Chopstick between horses and Bye Bye Felice as both of them were able to maintain their position on their track and did not lose any more ground to the lead. That also held true for Falling Homily as that one looked to have thoughts of a four wide move.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.2F To Go)- In the backstretch, it is all Barbara Eden. She may have gotten away from everyone else as we still saw no one making a push to the front to try and challenge her. Most of the run around the turn followed suit, but approaching the exit, we began to see the field close in on her. But would they have enough time. Tell The Queen was still second, but likely frustrating those who supported her because they wanted her to make a push, it just did not seem to be coming. Believe In Miracles showed renewed interest towards the exit of the turn. Bye Bye Felice and Chopstick had a tall task ahead of them if they were going to pull off the win. For Chopstick, the gap was still about four lengths at the top of the stretch, but she is known to be a closer, so it was time to show what she could do. Falling Homily continued to hold her outside lane without pushing forward.

(Finish- 1:35.77)- As the stretch run began, Barbara Eden did her best to hang on at the front, but the challengers were getting closer. Chopstick was coming on very strong and made quick progress, but at the half furlong to go mark, she seemed to stop that progress for a brief moment to allow Believe In Miracles to get back to her inside. Then, once that one was beside her, Chopstick resumed her run forward. With Barbara Eden continuing to run well, that brief hesitation may have cost Chopstick. At the wire, both Barbara Eden and Chopstick could not be separated in a photo, and this one joins the long list of dead heats in stakes. Believe In Miracles could not keep up with Chopstick in the final moments, and was a length back in third place. Bye Bye Felice is fourth, narrowly over Tell The Queen and Falling Homily, who, by the way, also were in a dead heat for their position.

About The Winners:
Barbara Eden, trained by Mental Bloch Racing and ridden to victory by R Eikleberry, is a two year old filly by Hogshead and is out of Profound Sensation. She was bred in West Virginia as a first quarter two year old by Mental Bloch Racing, the only trainer she has ever known. Congratulations to the connections. She unconventionally breaks her maiden here and has career earnings of $70.120.

Chopstick, trained by Aer Stables, and ridden to victory by T Thornton, is a two year old filly by the died too early Marketable and is out of Cobra Kai. She was bred as a yearling in Ontario by Aer Stables and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her second in five starts and her first stake win. Her career earnings are now $126.000.

Track: Fast
Time: :23²  :47   1:10³  1:35³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 4 Paid 7.00, 4 – 1 Paid 5.90
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 4 – 3 Paid 152.00, 4 – 1 – 3 Paid 303.00

Scratched: Cosmo Belle(L)

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded