Fair Quest By a Neck in ET Mint Julep Thriller

If anyone besides me doubted that this 6-year-old mare still had what it takes to win at this level, they were proven wrong on Saturday at CD. Fair Quest went off as the second choice in the Grade 3 Mint Julep behind Love Runs Deep and she didn’t disappoint. Shuffled back to 7^th in an 8 horse field at the break, Fair Quest held her spot two off the rail as the leaders bunched in front of her. Wasted Pippy showed the way into the turn, with Moonlight Cloud second on the rail and Girl Talk just to her outside in third.

Midway on the backstretch, Girl Talk took the lead from Wasted Pippy, while Fair Quest had only 2 horses beaten in heavy traffic. Girl Talk started drawing away to lead by 2 into the far turn. Fair Quest and Love Runs Deep swung to the outside and moved in tandem 3 lengths behind the leader.

Rio Tinto rallied from behind, but Fair Quest had her sights set on the leader. She pulled away from Love Runs Deep and challenged Moonlight Cloud. At the head of the stretch, Fair Quest cut Girl Talk’s lead to 2 with the wire coming up fast. It took every inch of the mile and a 16^th for Fair Quest to run Girl Talk down. At the wire, the difference was a neck.

Fair Quest scored her 10^th win in 27 career starts for owner/breeder Glorify Stables.

Complete Order of Finish

Fair Quest – Came from off the pace in the stretch to win by a neck

Girl Talk – Opened up a 3 length lead in the stretch but couldn’t hold off the eventual winner

Mo Ki Missy – Trailed the field throughout, then made a big move in the stretch to take 3^rd

Rio Tinto – Put in a big run late but couldn’t catch the leaders

Moonlight Cloud – Stalked the pace throughout, then faded in the stretch to finish 5^th

Love Runs Deep – Just didn’t have it today, never a factor

Errand Of Mercy – Couldn’t keep pace with this field; finished 7^th

Wasted Pippy – Led early, faded to finish 8^th and last

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES