June 6, 2016
A speed duel was supposed to emerge between some very fast three-year-olds in the Grade III Pennine Ridge at BEL but The Land was able to shake off all challengers early and was never seriously pressed while taking his fourth career win and ninth consecutive top three placing to start his career. A homebred for owner Wolf Ridge Stables, who knows owns four Graded Stakes wins in their training career, he came up with the biggest effort of his career over a very firm turf and earned a mammoth 100-speed rating in victory, easily the best he has posted.
When both El Comandante (10.90) and Twisted Diademe (4.75) broke slowly in the Pennine Ridge, it allowed The Land to get out to the lead and save some much needed ground and he took the field of six into the first turn at BEL. Techfluence (26.55) moved forward at long odds while favourite Sunny Gabe (*1.55) held the rail but it was The Land to held sway into the backstretch, with Curious Kierrnan (3.00) coming up right behind him with a rush. The leader was able to get into a two-wide path as Techfluence moved to the rail with Sunny Gabe dropping well back and the first split of 47.34 proved that speed was in abundance and anyone with a clear shot could make a run in the latter stages. The Land started to inch away into the far turn, through six-furlongs in a rapid 1:10.28, and Curious Kierrnan was unable to keep pace while Techfluence sat nicely inside with the hopes of finding more in the stretch. At the head of the lane, the only runner really making any gains was the surprising El Comandante, who came up inside and but was really no match for The Land, a gate-to-wire winner by a diminishing half-length. Techfluence held third by the slimmest of margins over Sunny Gabe, who was stunted by the early of pace pressure, while Curious Kierrnan and Twisted Diademe failed to show anything and were well-beaten.
The Land had been highly regarded after two huge wins and a big streak of good races and he translated that outside speed into a wire-to-wire win in the Pennine Ridge over some solid runners, although nothing like he will face in the future. With this being his first stakes attempt, he might not be asked to go to the BEL Derby just yet, leaving races like the American Derby and the Kent Stakes as logical preps for a start in the Secretariat or even the Fourstardave, where a huge break in the weights will help.
Congratulations goes out to owner Wolf Ridge Stables and their three-year-old colt The Land, a front-running winner of the Grade III Pennine Ridge at BEL!
Prediction Sunny Gabe / Curious Kierrnan / The Land
Winner The Land
Three-year-old gray colt
Nikau Palm-Page Three Girl (Always On Time)
Owner Wolf Ridge Stables
Time 47.34, 1:10.28, 1:33.49, 1:45.43
Overall
The Land 3.00 broke sharp, controlled pace, never threatened
El Comandante 10.90 midpack early, closed stoutly, up for second
Techfluence 26.55 inside run, no late momentum
Sunny Gabe *1.55 dropped back, too much left
Curious Kierrnan 3.00 pressed, no threat late
Twisted Diademe 4.75 outrun
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
