June 2, 2016
A solid pair of older fillies took on three of their sophomore counterparts in the Grade I Gamely Stakes on Memorial Day Monday and Congratulations came from just off the pace to upset the apple cart at 29-1, adding a 39th career Grade I win to the credentials of owner Blushing Meadows. A daughter of BC Juvenile winner Copper Bottom, and one of only three foals from her dam, she briefly tried the road to the KY Oaks with little success but has found three wins in four starts on turf and now sports a Grade I win and more than $270.000 earnings for her efforts.
Dragonville (*0.80) was first out of the gate in the Gamely and she ran to her role as favourite by taking control while In Z Balance (4.20) came up wide into the lane and Broomsticks Copy (1.40) dropped back to last. No one was really eager to set the early fractions and the two leaders coddled each other on the lead with Congratulations (29.00) in third but smart enough to get down the fence before the first turn. Everyone looked to have their own position through the first half-mile in a very quick 46.90 and Dragonville was going strong with In Z Balance her shadow and Ghost Runner (2069.60) coming up quickly to engage Congratulations for third. The leader sprinted clear down the backside to a one-length advantage as In Z Balance failed to move forward and while Congratulations moved towards the fence, Ghost Runner angled out for her shot while four-wide. Six-furlongs came up in a torrid 1:10.06 and Dragonville was still leading the way by more than a length but as the quintet rounded the far turn, Congratulations loomed large up the rail while Ghost Runner angled around a stubborn In Z Balance, and that still left champion Broomsticks Copy to make her move in whatever path she wanted. At the head of the short SA stretch, Congratulations angled just inside of Dragonville to take her shot with Broomsticks Copy crying for room and as the field strained for the wire, it was that crucial inside run that got Congratulations to the wire first by a scant nose, with Dragonville a very game second and Ghost Runner a wide but very solid third. Broomsticks Copy failed to find any room and wound up fourth while In Z Balance finished last but was only two-lengths from victory in another close Grade I finish.
A pair of highly touted runners from owner Drabfantasy, including champion Broomsticks Copy, loomed as the favourites in the Grade I Gamely Stakes but Congratulations are in order for the aptly named three-year-old as she closed from just off the pace to score her biggest career win. The Grade I BEL Oaks now looks like the best spot for her to run but she will face the toughest of her division for a huge purse and will need to be at her best to score the victory.
Congratulations goes out to owner Blushing Meadows and their three-year-old filly Congratulations, last jump winner of the Grade I Gamely Stakes at SA!
Prediction Broomsticks Copy / Congratulations / In Z Balance
Winner Congratulations
Three-year-old bay filly
Copper Bottom-Catalyst For Major (Jet)
Owner Blushing Meadows
Time 46.90, 1:10.06, 1:33.94, 1:46.28
Overall
Congratulations 29.00 stalked, inside run, just up
Dragonville *0.80 set solid splits, missed
Ghost Runner 2069.60 wide run, held third
Broomsticks Copy 1.40 lacked room late
In Z Balance 4.20 faded when pressured
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
