The Skip Away – Grade III
1 1/8 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $150.000 Open 4 Year Olds And Up.

1st Lil Old Louie, trained by Mb Stables
Carrying the two pound penalty this gelding put in a huge perfromance to grab this
tight looking race by a neck. Making it four wins in a row he looks right back to his
best as a three year old and should be ready to upgrade to the next level now. Slowly
away and trailing early off a modest it was going to be tough to get past the on pace
horses but he stuck his head down and gamely got past them for a good win.

2nd Freak Event, trained by Nakamura Stables
Another who was in top form and trying for four wins in a row the seven year old looked
home and hosed with a  furlong to run and a length advantage. The brave old warrior just
couldnt hold on though and gave way close home to be a good second and showing that he
is certainly none the worse for his advanced years.

3rd Ring It Up, trained by Eastern Equine
This formerly unbeaten four year old ran well for a long way and it will be interesting
to see how this first run for four months will bring him on. In the stalk from the gate
his fitness wavered in the second half of the race but he still managed third although beaten
a fair way.

4th Mass Debatable, trained by Maverick Racing
Started poorly and was relegated to last by halfway he never really got into things and is
clearly not the hosre he was last year.

5th Unsuited
Something drastic has happened to this horse since February and i have no idea what it could
be. I am going to need to see a much better run next time to have any confidence in his future
chances.

6th Cape Canaveral
The BC Dirt Mile runner up had a mysterious run today and i would love to be able to hear from
his trainer as to whether it was by their design. The very modest early pace saw him taken to the
lead and when he was still in front at the 5 furlongs to go pole in a time over two seconds slower
than the BC Mile it looked all over. Strangely though by the mile pole which they past in 1.36, a
second slower than he ran in the mile he was weakening badly and fell like a stone to the rear of
the field. I have to put this run down to a race engine fart and will be giving him another chance.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES