May 10, 2016
The Grade II CD featured some of the best sprinters at HRP including the defending BC Sprint champion, the defending CD champion from 2015 and a bevy of Grade I winners throughout the years and as usual in these types of races, it was up to Mb Stables to put their runners in the best spot and Moon Landing came through the inside rail to score his second win of the year. The gelded son of Laffin Moon was unable to close enough in the recent Commonwealth at KEE but found room late in this spot to take his sixth career win and push past $900.000 in career earnings while adding a mammoth 100-speed rating to his already impressive credentials.
Much like its filly and mare counterpart, no one really wanted to go out and take the lead in the CD and Clouseau (15.00) got out first from the outside with Impending Decision (13.05) sent second, with the farthest stall to overcome. Stablemates Visa Vice (4.15) and Moon Landing (6.50) also broke well and placed forwardly in the opening furlongs with favourite Hallelujah (*2.50) between them in a great stalking position before getting stopped by a tiring frontrunner. The first split of 22.97 was solid for the distance and only Five Star Five (16.05) seemed to have found a wide trip in the field of 11 and as everyone headed into the far turn, it was Impending Decision who led the way with Moon Landing sneaking up the fence to engage with Visa Vice sitting the perfect trip just in behind the speed. Around the turn, the leader was still out three-wide and a 45.72 half-mile did not help his chances, even with the closers not really making their move while giving him a chance to breath a little easier. A brief little inside move shut off Clouseau but not Moon Landing and as the head of the stretch, he found his legs with Hallelujah right behind him and Visa Vice trying to make a final run, with Trench Admiral (6.35) looking for a way out as well. Into the final furlong, Impending Decision was up to the task and tried to hold off his rivals but Moon Landing simply got the better trip riding the rail and sprinted home to a half-length win over Hallelujah, who came between horses to nip the longtime leader for second money. Trench Admiral found minor room late to grab the last piece of the purse from an even Clouseau, with Visa Vice a non-threat in sixth and Five Star Five a wide seventh throughout. The backfield was unable to make any headway at any stage and Masterpiece Five (21.25), Super Sexy Sanny (21.00) and Swamp Fox (25.10) all ran to their odds, with the big disappointment being Blame Ratman (7.95), who was well backed but showed nothing from a good inside post.
Moon Landing is a former Grade I winner who is clearly best at seven-furlongs and in taking another win at the distance Saturday in the Grade II CD, upended some of the best sprinters at HRP and moved himself to the head of a very tough division. He will now head to either the Grade III Aristides at CD, like he did last year, or to BEL for the Grade II True North, with the ultimate goal being the Grade III BEL Sprint Championship at seven-furlongs again, where he will meet many of these same horses yet again.
Congratulations goes out to owner Mb Stables and their four-year-old gelding Moon Landing, a rail skimming winner of the Grade II CD!
Prediction Hallelujah / Impending Decision / Visa Vice
Winner Moon Landing
Four-year-old bay gelding
Laffin Moon-Britnei (Northern Ruler)
Owner Mb Stables
Time 22.97, 45.72, 1:09.06, 1:21.15
Overall
Moon Landing 6.50 broke well, inside run, up in time
Hallelujah *2.50 behind rivals, found room late, got second
Impending Decision 13.05 pressed pace, clear into lane, weakened
Trench Admiral 6.35 minor late run
Clouseau 15.00 blocked late, failed to fire
Visa Vice 4.15 even effort
Five Star Five 16.05 wide throughout
Masterpiece Five 21.25 no threat
Super Sexy Sanny 21.00 outrun
Swamp Fox 25.10 outrun
Blame Ratman 7.95 no factor
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
