The Wood Memorial – Grade II [KYD]

1 1/8 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $750.000 Open 3 Year Olds.

1st      Up In Smoke     Fractious     Davis D

Rarely have I been so thrilled to see a horse finally get the luck it deserves and demonstrate its ability, the only downside is that it didn’t get it during its time with Jive Inc but that’s not to say its new owner doesn’t deserve credit for sticking with it. The key to his race like any race at HRP these days was where he ended up from the gate because after just a half furlong he had managed to move from gate nine to the rail sitting just in behind the leaders. With 9 lengths first to last after 100yards there were those who had no chance on a wet track and those that had a winning chance and with all of the first four within four lengths of the leader at this early point it was obvious the winner was going to come from a few less horses than when they lined up in the gate. From then on, it was just a matter of holding his place and for a horse with little early toe that was an issue. He slipped back a little but kept in touch and had the advantage of the rail which boosted him round the bends to keep him even closer.
With a half mile to run he began to get into his stride and now it was just a matter of whether he could get off the rail but the AI Gods smiled on him and he pushed managed to find a run with two furlongs to go. Still 4 lengths off the leader he went onto produce the electric finish we know he has covering the final furlong in a hand held time of 12 seconds on a muddy track, a pretty impressive burst which left everything else for dead.
Jive Inc will be wondering why the gaps didn’t come for this horse under his charge but I am sure they will be thrilled that the horse they bred out of Howl To The Hounds sire Marry Me Mandy showed what he was really capable of today.

2nd      Federation      D J C Racing Stables        Beschizza A

The stable has been in great form today and this horse rose to the challenge with a great effort to be second. Making a lot of ground from the back he didn’t have much chance with the winner when it grew its wings but still ran past everything else and this was a much improved effort after two failures in lesser qualifying races before this.

3rd       Good Guy           Arindel          Pereira T J

Went into the stalk from the gate and as can happen with that position he just whacked away at the one pace when asked to go. Flying at the finish from back in the pack in his last two this was another example of the click and play instructions being used to great effect by this trainer who seems to have a great handle on the game at the moment.


4th       Jump The Line      Mb Stables      Ortiz I Jr

Ran a great race from gate ten considering he had been claimed for just $40 in his last race. He clearly has ability but may be just a few lengths of the best of the three year olds but knowing this trainer they will find a black type race for him somewhere.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES