April 10, 2016

Mb Stables came into the Grade I BG Stakes with three huge entrants and came away with another victory on the road to the KYD when Spring Lover, saddled with post 14 and hopelessly last with three-furlongs to go, came rolling between horses to score his fifth win in eight starts but first since the Grade II Futurity at BEL. Since then, the son of Proud Chai has been unable to find enough momentum to score going two-turns but now finds himself with a Grade I win and the knowledge that he can handle just about anything, including a huge field and an outside draw.

Using sprinting speed from his middle gate, Arctic Rock (10.30) rolled to an easy early lead in the BG with Red Candy Rioja (7.35) to his inside and Platoon (20.15) very wide and as they moved into the first turn, finding room was key to almost everyone in the field. Six horses separated themselves up front as the leader moved clear and Capo Di Tutti Capi (8.80) came between rivals to engage and while No Doubt About It (10.85) looked to be making a big move from midpack, the fractions were in line with a seven-furlong sprint and not a nine-furlong route race. Arctic Rock was nearly two-lengths clear midway down the backstretch but the half-mile time of 45.63 was incredibly quick and played right into the hands of the closers, who still had a half-mile and plenty of opportunity to make their final moves. Red Candy Rioja finally got a clear lane and came at the leader into the far turn as No Doubt About It stalled outside and while everyone else angled wide, others tried to squeeze between through six-furlongs in a wicked 1:09.60. At the head of the lane, the longtime leader was done and horses lined up almost ten-wide with Game Theory (10.85) farthest into the track and with two-furlongs to go, Diplomatic Prince (10.70) looked to have the best inside track and took dead aim on the leader with Connectivity (14.90) trying to slice his way through as well. Red Candy Rioja was still clear with a furlong to go as favourite Edwin Drood (*3.85) started to make his move and as the field almost stopped to a crawl, Spring Lover (7.20) came rocketing from dead-last to swoop the field and win by two-lengths, with Edwin Drood a discouraged second and Diplomatic Prince gasping in third. Connectivity wound up fourth inside with Laffin Alicia (27.00) a very wide fifth while Red Candy Rioja backed up to sixth with Pink Flag (18.05) and Carneyman (15.65) behind him. No Doubt About It and Game Theory were wide throughout from their outside draws, Easy Duz It (34.25) came up empty from his inside post, Capo Di Tutti Capi tired badly and Arctic Rock and Platoon finished well back as well, with the former coming up empty after setting those blazing splits.

There have been five 100-point qualifiers for the Grade I KYD to date and owner Mb Stables has won three of them including the BG Stakes here with the hard-charging Spring Lover, who seems to have really found his closing ability as long as the pace up front is quick. His speed ratings are improving and he is peaking at the right time but one has to look at how slowly he came home and evaluate whether he will be able to find that same road between horses over a tough CD course.

Congratulations goes out to owner Mb Stables and their three-year-old colt Spring Lover, a last-to-first winner of the Grade I BG Stakes at KEE!

Prediction                  Edwin Drood / Spring Lover / Arctic Rock

Winner                       Spring Lover

                                      Three-year-old chestnut colt

                                      Proud Chai-Speeding Hand (Speeding Home)

Owner                         Mb Stables

Time                            45.63, 1:09.60, 1:34.92, 1:47.96

Overall

Spring Lover              7.20 dead last, caught wicked splits, last to first

Edwin Drood            *3.85 between rivals, moved forward, outkicked

Diplomatic Prince   10.70 inside trip, had room, lacked momentum

Connectivity              14.90 inside run throughout

Laffin Alicia              27.00 late rally out wide

Red Candy Rioja       7.35 took lead, failed to menace when asked

Pink Flag                    18.05 even effort

Carneyman                 15.65 even effort

No Doubt About It     10.85 wide run, no late response

Easy Duz It                  34.25 wide both turns

Capo Di Tutti Capi    8.80 pressed, faded badly

Arctic Rock                  10.30 set pace, weakened in drive

Platoon                         20.15 no late threat

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES