May 1, 2015
The Gold Fever at BEL was a chance for three-year-old sprinters to stretch their legs before some of the more lucrative stakes races at BEL and SAR come to pass and Power And Money used a drop in class and a cutback in distance to get up in the last jump and score his third win from six career starts. A gelded son of Bali High who was no factor in the Wood Memorial over the same course, he sat just off the early fractions of Power Bat and with a determined thrust, stuck his nose on the wire first to add $60.000 to his bankroll while setting himself up for some much bigger paydays down the line.
Absolutely no one wanted the early lead in the Gold Fever and through the opening furlong, there was no clear pacemaker with everything holding their position while floating Power And Money (4.30) and The Ju Ju Man (4.60) very wide. Power Bat (3.20) was finally able to get a slim lead and get down to the rail and through an opening split of 22.62, it was clear that the outside was not the place to be as many struggled to find a good spot. The Ju Ju Man moved forward to engage around the far turn while Risky Iron (21.45) sat a great trip in behind the leaders but at the top of the long BEL stretch, through a half-mile in 45.28, Power Bat looked great on the lead and nearly two-lengths to the clear and driving. Risky Iron angled out for a clear shot while Freaky Deaky (*1.65) hugged the rail and both rallied smartly but even though he looked beaten, Power And Money found some new momentum in the final furlong and ate up ground with each and every stride before getting up in the last jump over Power Bat, who held so bravely in second. Freaky Deaky got the better of Risky Iron in a bob of the nose for third, Steel Gauntlet (5.40) never really got involved and The Ju Ju Man backed up badly from that wide trip to finish last in what was a tough effort to swallow.
After tiring to finish 12th in the Grade I Wood Memorial, Power and Money got back to what he does best and remains undefeated at six-furlongs after another powerful win, this time in the Gold Fever over a tough BEL oval. Now, he can set his sights firmly on the Grade II Stephens in five weeks time and with a victory there, he would earn back much of that mammoth $350.000 purchase price while adding to his credentials as the best three-year-old sprinter at HRP.
Congratulations goes out to owner Running Farms and their three-year-old gelding Power And Money, a last gasp winner of the Gold Fever at BEL!
Prediction The Ju Ju Man / Freaky Deaky / Power And Money
Winner Power And Money
Three-year-old black gelding
Bali High-Time Of The Clock (Prince Of Darkness)
Owner Running Farms
Time 22.62, 45.28, 57.04, 1:09.40
Overall
Power And Money 4.30 broke with leaders, between rivals, just up
Power Bat 3.20 set solid pace, clear late, just missed
Freaky Deaky *1.65 inside trip, got third
Risky Iron 21.45 wide, no late momentum
Steel Gauntlet 5.40 never involved
The Ju Ju Man 4.60 wide trip weakened
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: Ungraded
