Fleur De Lis Handicap – Grade II
1 1/8 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $500.000 Filly & Mare 4 Year Olds And Up.
1st Ignore Tucker Fractious Franco M
This horse was all sorts of promising as a two-year-old when she was bought for $1,200.000 and looked to be heading straight to the top. Things didn’t pan out though as she kept beating herself in races, but she showed enough glimmers of the star she is to keep the trainer persevering. Hats off to Fractious because they kept believing in the filly and finally this year, she is at last hitting the sort of performances we had all hoped for. Shrugging off top weight today she came from a mile behind early on and in the end won with a bit in hand, and whilst that running style may be her biggest problem, it certainly looks amazing when it comes off. The solid early pace certainly helped her and slowly but surely, she is paying back her purchase price.
2nd Grande Sunset Mb Stables Moore R L
Going to the lead straight out of the gate, with her wide gate and her running style that came as no surprise. She went pretty hard early and, in the end, paid the price as the winner came late and caught her. Without Ignore Tucker this was a very nice performance from this versatile mare as without that filly’s huge late finish she would’ve taken a gutsy win. The question will now be which surface is next for her, but after this brave effort I would imagine another go on the dirt may be on the cards.
3rd Pink Attack The Sidley Stud Alvarado F T
Stalked the fast pace which is often a troublesome place to be and in the end, she weakened down the stretch. To be fair to her she held onto third and was beaten by two very good horses carrying a decent burden so the trainer won’t be disappointed.
4th Karloffs Monster TwinTowersRacing Velazquez J R
Ran home nicely from the back but not as well as the eventual winner. The five-year-old continues to put it in in her races but it’s been a while now since she has won despite some close up finishes in very good races.
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
