March 2, 2015
Edwin Drood last raced at OP and was entered to go in a tough race at FG last weekend but opted to ship to GP for the Grade II Fountain Of Youth Stakes on Saturday and came away with a stunning victory, running past three key rivals to score his third career win. A $225.000 purchase last July who was almost immediately gelded, he was a state-bred winner to close out 2015 but shocked the racing world with a near stakes-record performance that earned him a 95-speed rating and most importantly, 50 points towards a potential run at the KYD in two months time.
There is such a short run into the first turn at GP that outside horses have almost no chance of saving ground early so Who Stole My Sock (46.85) and Lord Byron (27.75) just had to go for it early with City Grounds (11.50) and Pentagon (13.95) also breaking sharply. As expected, Palestinian (5.95) also tried to get into the action early but was smart enough to clear and angle down towards the rail through the first split of 23.20 and that left the outside runners stuck wide with no recourse for the quick early fractions. Who Stole My Sock eventually pressed forward to engage the leader as a wall of three lined up behind them and in turn, they saw favourite Ghost Star (*1.80) in their shadows with the knowledge that he could turn it on at any point. With a half-mile up in a rapid 46.23, the leaders were still dueling up front with Palestinian looking good along the rail and into the far turn, things started to heat up as he took command with Ghost Star angled out and others crying for room in behind. Custer Of The West (9.60) looked held up as Who Stole My Sock started to fade and at six-furlongs in 1:10.02, the fractions seemed to be taking their toll on just about everyone. Headlong into the short stretch, Palestinian was game as they come to hold off both Lord Byron and Ghost Star with Custer Of The West charging between but from the clouds came Edwin Drood (13.05) and after sitting second-last most of the way, he came with a full head of steam en route to a half-length win that looked easier than it was. Ghost Star held for second over Palestinian and Custer Of The West with Dogs Got Wings (13.55) and Lord Byron (27.75) dead-heating for fifth. Pentagon raced inside the entire way, City Grounds never fired, Compress (4.25) was disappointing from an outside draw and Bolkonski (26.85), Who Stole My Sock and Stolen Thunder (62.55) closed out the field, running to their longshot odds.
Edwin Drood scratched out of the Grade II Risen Star to contest the Grade II Fountain Of Youth Stakes instead and came away with a surprising win, stopping the winning streak of two highly touted rivals en route to his first added-money score. Surprisingly good from off-the-pace, the question is whether the Grade I FL Derby will be as kind to him with a pace scenario like this one; only time will tell how much he will move forward against this level of competition.
Congratulations goes out to owner Sanny Village and their three-year-old gelding Edwin Drood, a last-to-first winner of the Grade II Fountain Of Youth Stakes at GP!
Prediction Compress / Ghost Star / Palestinian
Winner Edwin Drood
Three-year-old bay gelding
Arundel-Petite Hirondelle (Trench Warfare)
Owner Sanny Village
Time 23.20, 46.23, 1:10.02, 1:41.39
Overall
Edwin Drood 13.05 far back, wide rally, up in time
Ghost Star *1.80 stalked in midpack, patient ride, caught late
Palestinian 5.95 inside run, led into stretch, tired
Custer Of The West 9.60 between rivals, mild late rally
Dogs Got Wings 13.55 late run inside
Lord Byron 27.75 no late momentum
Pentagon 13.95 even throughout
City Grounds 11.50 no factor
Compress 4.25 outside throughout
Bolkonski 26.85 outrun
Who Stole My Sock 46.85 brief speed, faded
Stolen Thunder 62.55 outrun
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
