July 19, 2016

In 2013, owner Mb Stables used a win in the Victoria Stakes with Forever Steel as a catalyst to mulitple Grade I placings and nearly $1,900.000 in earnings and this year, luck struck again with Final Delivery, as the rising star sprinted clear of his rivals to record an even better and more decisive win. A son of BC Juvenile and JC Gold Cup winner Greek God, he ran down maiden runners at MTH last time out and was every more up to the task in this spot, rocketing clear to a second straight win with the definite potential for more, especially as the distances get longer.

Everything Zen (11.35) was definitely the slowest into stride from his outside gate but Rapid Growth (6.65) was not and sprinted to command out wide with Spartacus (18.75) right beside him. The field fanned out across the track and that left the leader in a very tough position and he was still seven-wide into the track as the field marched through the first split in 22.28, with Wolfs Shadow (9.35) holding everyone out after failing to make any early ground. The three frontrunners were finally able to get into decent positions but by then, it was too late and into the far turn, Wolfs Shadow tried to make an inside move before the backfield really got into gear. A half-mile in a blistering 45.32 saw Rapid Growth still on the lead but Leftie (9.45) had angled out with Hogmanay (13.90) to his outside and at the head of the lane, the race completely changed. With a furlong to run, it looks like the start of the race with all nine lined up across the racetrack but the speed was certainly more with the horses from the back of the pack and Final Delivery (*2.80) found his seam and burst forth from eighth in the blink of an eye. With easy strides, he sprinted two-lengths clear of the field at the wire to notch his first stakes score ahead of both The Force Awakens (4.35) and Sweep The Ledge (3.80), who found their footing too late but still came on with gusto. Everything Zen completed the off-the-pace parade in fourth with Leftie and Hogmanay in midpack, while the three frontrunners all floundered late with Wolfs Shadow, Rapid Growth and Spartacus completing the order of finish.

For all intents and purposes, Final Delivery moves into one of the top spots for the BC Juvenile based on his smashing win in the Victoria Stakes and the manner with which he did it makes him even more likely to move forward at a route of ground. He has every reason to emulate his sire and win the biggest prize of the two-year-old year and will most likely head to the SAR Special before testing the tough waters in the Breeders Futurity at KEE.

Congratulations goes out to owner Mb Stables and their two-year-old colt Final Delivery, a sweeping winner of the Victoria Stakes at WO!

Prediction                      Sweep The Ledge / Final Delivery / Everything Zen

Winner                           Final Delivery

                                          Two-year-old chestnut colt

                                          Greek God-Crucial Dynamic (Thermodynamic)

Owner                             Mb Stables

Time                                22.28, 45.32, 57.52, 1:09.45

Overall

Final Delivery               *2.80 sat, waited, burst forward

The Force Awakens    4.35 inside run, up for second

Sweep The Ledge         3.80 behind rivals, minor late rally

Everything Zen             11.35 broke slow, never in contention

Leftie                                9.45 wide run throughout

Hogmanay                     13.90 tracked in midpack

Wolfs Shadow               9.35 failed to save ground, weakened

Rapid Growth                6.65 sharp gate speed, tired

Spartacus                         18.75 no late factor

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded