The Wild Applause ($150.000 Purse)
AQU- For Fillies Three Years Old
One Mile on the Inner Turf
June 22, 2024
Last year, Smokey Stover won the Wild Applause with Breath Of The Bride, and he would return to this year’s running of the race with another Breath Of The Wild foal: Cacciadiavola. The typical late running filly seemed like one of the better choices in the race, but she would not run today in the way that she had in her prior three starts. This time, she would be just a couple of lengths off the lead early and took advantage of the stretch here at AQU to pick up what is now her third win in four starts. Smokey Stover is a two-time winner of the race now, and jockey M Franco, who also rode Breath Of The Bride, is now a three-time winner. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:33.35, which can’t fairly be compared to the prior editions of the race that were run at BEL, but if you wanted to anyway, it would be the second quickest in the race’s history. Let’s take a look at it:
(1/4 Mile- :22.75)- Swife Pinnacle Party, the only horse that we picked to finish ahead of Caccadiavola, is quick out of the gate for Maxmillion Farm, as is the horse to his inside, Z Bandit, from La Canada Racehorses. These two will be the leaders into the opening turn with our eventual winner Smokey Stover, Caccadiavola, assuming a stalking trip. She has company right beside her in the form of Bottomless Mimosas, trained by Mb Stables. That one seemed like she may be the early leader initially before being restrained a bit. Slip And Dip is fifth while three wide for Fractious, and next in line come Apricot Pitt (Nakamura Stables) and Outrageous Nevada (Paradise Stable), who are side by side. Dime Queen (Asgar) is by herself at the back.
(½ Mile- :46.14)- Just as they reach a half mile, Z Bandit pokes a head in front to take a very slight lead over Swife Pinnacle Party in the backstretch. About two lengths behind them, Caccadiavola and Bottomless Minosas still run beside another while waiting for their time to strike. It’s another length to Slip And Dip, who has been caught by Apricot Pitt. Outrageous Nevada loses a little ground, and it’s at least two more to Dime Queen.
(Top of Stretch, 1.8F To Go)- By the time the field reached the end of the backstretch, Z Bandit had pulled out to a length lead over Swife Pinnacle Party, and Bottomless Mimosas was setting up a three wide move in the turn. Caccadiavola, for now, was content to stay on the rail right behind the race leader. Once in the top of the turn, the tiring of Swife Pinnacle Party allowed Caccadiavola to get a clear lane to try and make a push to the outside of Z Bandit once M Franco decided it was time. At the top of the stretch, she was within a length. Bottomless Mimosas ended up being four wide and did not make as much progress at this point of the race as the trainer would have liked. Swife Pinnacle Party was bowing out, but we had not really seen one of the others further back make a push. For now, Apricot Pitt was the best of the rest.
(Finish- 1:33.35)- With a furlong to go, both Caccadiavola and Bottomless Mimosas had passed Z Bandit, and would now decide among themselves. Apricot Pitt was worth keeping an eye on here but seemed to need a little more. Approaching the wire, Cacciadiavola would inch away from Bottomless Mimosas to pick up the victory. Bottomless Mimosas does take second, with Z Bandit getting third. Apricot Pitt fizzled out in the final furlong to remain fourth, beating Outrageous Nevada, Slip And Dip, Dime Queen, and Swife Pinnacle Party.
About the Winner- Cacciadiavola, trained by Smokey Stover and ridden by M Franco, is a three-year-old filly by Breath Of The Wild and is out of Cacciadiavoli. She was bred as a third quarter two-year-old in New York by Smokey Stover, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her third in four starts, and first stake win. Her career earnings are now $219.000.
| ## | Horse Name | Owner Name | Jockey | Odds | Fin | Time | SRF | ||
| 4 | Cacciadiavola | Smokey Stover | Franco M | 2.75 | 11/2 | 1:33.35 | |||
| 6 | Bottomless Mimosas | Mb Stables | Prat F | 8.10 | 21 | 1:33.47 | |||
| 2 | Z Bandit | La Canada Racehorses | Davis D | 14.70 | 31/2 | 1:33.76 | |||
| 5 | Apricot Pitt | Nakamura Stables | Luzzi L J | 2.85 | 41/4 | 1:33.89 | |||
| 7 | Outrageous Nevada | Paradise Stable | Vazquez R A | 3,061.55 | 51 | 1:33.97 | |||
| 8 | Slip And Dip | Fractious | Alvarado J | 2.20 | 6nk | 1:34.23 | |||
| 1 | Dime Queen | Asgar | Kocakaya G | 6.65 | 71 | 1:34.30 | |||
| 3 | Swife Pinnacle Party | Maxmillion Farm | Lezcano J | 24.70 | 8 | 1:34.66 |
Track: Firm
Time: :223 :46 1:093 1:331
$2 Mutuel Prices:
| 4 – Cacciadiavola | 7.50 | 4.00 | 3.20 |
| 6 – Bottomless Mimosas | 6.90 | 5.30 | |
| 2 – Z Bandit | 10.40 |
$1 Exacta: 4 – 6 Paid 26.70
$1 Trifecta: 4 – 6 – 2 Paid 420.10
Scratched: None
— NS
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
