Seagram Cup Stakes – Grade II
1 1/16 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $175.000 Open 3 Year Olds And Up.
Well, the slightly off track would’ve had some effect on the result but overall, this race looked like a lot of others in that there were noses and necks between the first half dozen home, a wide gate led and nearly held on, and the winner wasn’t obvious at first look.
So here is how the first four home ran their races:
1st Walk Naked Riggins Racing Contreras L
Once again, we saw a couple of things here which are front and center if you want to win races at HRP. Firstly, this is a horse that has competed at this level pretty well before but had been running pretty much the same in overnights as it had in stakes races. That says more about the similarity between high-level races and stakes racing than the horses’ ability because there is no doubt that an $80.000 claimer can be just as competitive as a grade-two stakes race. So, whilst this horse didn’t have the recent stakes form as its rivals, we knew it had the class gene and we knew from its performances in overnights that it was still competitive. The second thing was the draw which allowed him to conserve the energy that the wider draws had spent and thirdly the trainer had tweaked the adds after claiming him and that had seen an improvement in workouts.
All of those things added up gave him the chance, put a hoof in the door in effect, the final thing that would seal the win is that bit of racing luck needed, and sometimes the only thing that separates the many clone-like horses that compete in these types of races. It was pretty competitive up front early on which would’ve suited those, like this one, that took a pull. The key came as they rounded the home turn, some like Ginger Clean sweated on an inside run, and others were shuffling 5 and 6 wide to try and get a run but were moving sideways and not forward at a key time in the race. the AI riding this one however decided to go 8,9 and 10 wide and by the time they hit the stretch, he was running in a straight line. In the end in a race that saw the first five separated by less than a tenth of a second, it was the clear run that saw this one get home by a nose. Now all that doesn’t say this horse didn’t deserve the win and the time spent by the trainer adjusting the adds wasn’t very good play but what it does mean is that there is a fine line between first and fifth and one wrong move by the AI could’ve seen this one in fifth and not get a mention. As it stands though he is now a grade two winner and his consistency will see more success in the future, well done to Riggins Racing for the win.
2nd Twilight Flame Mb Stables Wilson E J
He had to work very hard to get to the lead which in the end was going to be his downfall as he tends not to be the strongest in a finish over this trip. The wide gate certainly helped his cause and once he asserted, he did look pretty comfortable and had set up a decent break on them by the half mile from home mark. It looked like he was going to hang on as the closers spread ten wide on the track turning for home but in the end, the post came a stride too late and he was beaten a nose, In another few strides he could’ve been fifth, in a couple less he would’ve won, such is racing at HRP these days.
3rd Seydoux II Arindel Carroll D
It is really hard to really talk about any of the closers in this race as individuals as they all fanned out as usual and mounted their runs. There can be a lot of sideways motion in the stretch as they shuffle around and that certainly blunts a finish and may have been the difference for this one but in the end third place was where he ended up.
4th Apache Rise Again Apache Warrior Walcott R W
All I can really say with him is ditto as far as his run is concerned. Considering his time off the track this was a big effort and it was great to see him running well after his valiant efforts in the TC. I think he will improve for this run, and I am sure there is a very good win to be added to his resume one day.
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
