The Stymie
1 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $150.000 Four-Year-Olds And Upward. At AQU

1st     Smitten              Asgar           6-1 (HRP) 5-1 (SRF)

Smitten was leading in his last two races as they passed the mile marker only to be run down just as the wire loomed. This time a slight change in tactics proved to be just what the doctor ordered as he laid midpack fifth only a length off the leaders in the early running, moved to challenge around the far turn, taking the lead into the stretch and cruising home to a neck victory.

2nd      Bonus Baby                Night Rider Stables                    5-1 (HRP) 4-1 (SRF)

That’s three straight seconds for Bonus Baby. Looks like he’s enjoying the shorter mile races as to his recent diet of longer routes. There was a definite tactical change today as he has been running on or near the lead for most of his recent races. Today he put his closer hat on and stayed midpack until the stretch and made nice headway down the lane to fall but a neck short of victory.

3rd      Malediction                Nakamura Stables                  *3-1 (HRP) 5-1 (SRF)

I expected a little more of Malediction and HRP expected a win, but he did give a respectable performance, laying a length off the lead in fourth throughout and finishing courageously in third beaten that length.

4th      Fire Chase                       Mb Stables               5-1 (HRP) 4-1 (SRF)

Fire Chase should be paying back that auction price pretty soon the way he is developing. Not giant checks, but nice finishes in decent races. In this one, he was involved in the pace from start to finish and only weakened in the final strides to finish a length behind the winner

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded