MTH Cup – Grade III
1 1/8 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $400.000 Open 3 Year Olds And Up.

1st = Domiano Fractious Moore R L

Well, this race pretty much went to the pattern that was expected with the on-pace runners dominating early, the mid pack runners diving and the late swoopers all arriving too late. This four-year-old, a grade one winner last time out, took on the other speed horses and won that battle by halfway and it was then just a matter of whether he could keep going strongly enough to repel the stalkers. It looked like he had done enough to win on his own, but the photo revealed a dead heat. His last two starts have been out of the top drawer, and he is really beginning to look like a BC horse now.

1st = Spankersville The Sidley Stud Velazquez J R

Put his poor effort in the Foster firmly behind him with a brave run to share the win right on the line. A slower pace meant he could sit closer to the speed than he usually does and when the whips came out, it was his class that got him the win. Now a six-year-old, he really doesn’t seem to be slowing down as he passed the $2,000.000 mark for the season and took his total earnings over the $4,000.000 mark.

3rd Twin Rackets Alydar Stables Conner T

The best of the deep closers, but not surprisingly just got the timing wrong, although not by much. He was tenth and beaten 4 lengths by Domiano in the Met Handicap last time but looked much happier over this longer trip today. It seems a long time since he won the PA Derby last season and I know I get some hassle for saying it, but these deep closers really don’t get many favors on this new engine, and he keeps running great races without winning.

4th Lets Celebrate Riggins Racing Husbands P

I guess I should just ditto the comments on Twin Rackets for this one as he got far too far back and though he rattled home late he came up just under a length short. When the timing is right, he is very good, but his frustrating running style continues to give us a mixture of results.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES