FG Stakes – Grade III
1 1/8 Mile Turf Stake Purse $150.000 Open 4 Year Olds And Up.

1st       Lets Do It Big Boy     RNP Stables        Ferrer J C

You know a single tear fell down my cheek after this race because this eight year old son of Cherokee Sunset must now be mentioned in the same breath as such great veterans as Spanish Showboat. What made this win even more remarkable is that he did it off the car park draw and won in the fastest 9 furlong time he has ever run after one of the worst races in his last start that he has run for 3 years. This amazing win certainly deserved more than the $90 he won but money does not matter when you move into legendary status. It is crazy to think he ran his first race at HRP in 2016 and after 57 starts still races with the enthusiasm of a three year old. Today he stalked a good pace in a wide position and still had enough left to run through the line for a half length win. Who knows maybe he is still getting better and will better his third fourth and fifth place finishes already achieved in the BC Turf, this writer would love to be the one writing about that.

2nd       La Terrifiant       Smokey Stover       Saez L

For all the emotion that was felt for the winner there is a lot of admiration for this seven year old mare who like the winner holds a special place in many hearts. She went to the front and set a very strong pace and really only gave it up inside the final furlong. Now a regular against the boys she has been one of the top female racers at HRP forever and doesn’t look like slowing down one bit although i know her owner will be itching to put her to the paddocks.

3rd       Gabilondo       Fractious         Gutierrez Mario

The strong pace would have meant the closers would’ve swamped the leaders last year but this new race engine is very different and the horses come from the back much slower than they used to. This one was the first of the closers home running on very well but never getting near the first two. This was a good performance from the four year old who was overlooked by the punters and he should find a race like this before long.

4th    Butter Ball        Angelos Stable        Baird E T

The nest of the closers home he was last early on which pretty much gave him no chance of winning on today’s race engine. He was flying home though and the seven year old looks to still have plenty of gas in the legs.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES