The 18th Running of the G3 Vagrancy Handicap

May 14, 2022

$150.000 6.5 Furlongs

BEL Race #4 Post Time 14:15

F&M 4+ Handicap Weights

Track Record-1:14.50 (Not Trippin Now-2021)

Stakes Record-1:15.08 (Class Status-2020)

Great Mojo used a determined stretch rally to capture the G3 Vagrancy Handicap at BEL on Saturday.  Completing the 6.5-furlong distance in 1:15.38, the victor hit the wire a half-length in front of the dead-heating duo of Christina G and Torrents Of Spring.  With the winner’s share of the $150.000 purse, the John Henry-trained filly now has accumulated $298.540 in earnings with nine wins in fifteen starts.

At the start it was Ginger Lee that broke the best and she was allowed to set the tempo in front of a quartet of horses through the opening stages.  Great Mojo was running in tandem with Kreepy Chill at the back of the pack as Ginger Lee clicked-off an opening quarter and half mile in :22.51 and :45.33, respectively.  Not A Big Deal and Flyingbolt were in hot pursuit of the leader while racing two back as Christina G and Torrents Of Spring started taking closer order of things.

As they completed the bend, Ginger Lee was still maintaining her two-length advantage over Not A Big Deal, but, while the latter was getting a beautiful run along the rail, Torrents Of Spring was widest of all throughout the turn.  Great Mojo was still in last, but she was starting to show some interest, and she soon found a seam between runners to unleash her rally.  Exiting the turn, Flyingbolt moved out just enough to allow Great Mojo to accelerate between her and Christina G.

With a furlong to go, Ginger Lee was still holding steady on the front end, but Great Mojo had gotten on even terms with the pack and she was in full flight.  At the sixteenth pole Great Mojo, Christina G, and Torrents Of Spring were all closing-in on Ginger Lee, but she was proving tough to reel in.  Great Mojo moved past all of them and took over inside the final fifty yards as Christina G and Torrents Of Spring did their best to match the winner’s strides.  Great Mojo won by a half-length in the end and the judges could not separate Christina G and Torrents Of Spring in the place photo.  Ginger Lee was only beaten a length for all of the money and she was followed across the wire by Kreepy Chill, Flyingbolt, and Not A Big Deal.  The entire seven-horse field was covered by less than three lengths.

Congratulations to Great Mojo and John Henry on their victory in the G3 Vagrancy Handicap at BEL!  

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