4/2/22
10 GP The Appleton (GIII)
$100.000 4yo&Up 1m InTurf 124lbs +penalties
Commanding Officer put Winning Link Stables in the winners-circle on Saturday, closing from off of the pace on the soggy sod to take The Appleton (GIII). The winning margin was a length as the 5yo grey gelding got the flat mile in 1:372 on the non-existent inner turf course. Banshee Star had the lead into the lane but could not hold off the winner, settling for the second spot, a length better than post time favorite Hollywood Capo in third. It was another neck to Forty Exba in fourth.
Commanding officer is a 5yo grey altered son of Steel Command – Serena, by Decima, and he was bred in Cal by his owner, Winning Link Stables. This was his fifth win from seventeen starts, his first graded stakes score, and he now has lifetime earnings of $232.590. Congrats to the connections!
$2 Mutuel Prices:
| 3 – Commanding Officer | 9.70 | 4.80 | 2.80 |
| 7 – Banshee Star | 5.60 | 2.90 | |
| 1 – Hollywood Capo | 2.50 |
Track: Soft Time: :233 :473 1:121 1:372
$1 Exacta: 3 – 7 Paid 32.60 $1 Trifecta: 3 – 7 – 1 Paid 38.80
Scratched: Hollywood Hero
Commanding Officer rated back on the rail, moved to 2p on the turn inching forward, split horses in the lane to meet the leader at the sixteenth marker, pulled away late. Banshee Star stalked the pace 3p, moved up mid-way on the far turn to take the lead, headed at the sixteenth pole, could not go with winner. Hollywood Capo off step slow, moved up 2p backside, fanned for drive, evenly. Forty Exba trailed, some late interest. Kings Poker rated back, passed tiring rivals. Cherokee Raj broke alertly, set the pace to midway on the far turn, tired. Ponzi Scheme stalked the early pace, lost ground into the far turn, tired.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
