Northern Dancer BC Turf (Grade 1)- $300.000 Purse
WO- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Half on the Turf
September 17, 2016

Spanish Showboat has done a lot over the course of his career, and today at WO, he would come out of almost no where to pick up his 12th win in 36 career starts.  While he has succeeded with this running style in the past, it’s been a while since we saw him so far back in the early moments of the race, but he really did well to make it work today.  He’s won many top Grade 1 Turf events over the course of his career, but this was the first time he found his way to Canada, and he made a nice impression here.   At this point in his career, we can probably be safe in saying he has done everything but win a BC race.  It almost makes you wonder, how big is a lack of a BC Trophy on Spanish Showboat’s mantle when we want to start comparing him to other great turf horses.  His career earnings now see him be less then $200.000 away from $3,000.000 in his career.   It is the second straight win for trainer Mb Stables in the stake, and the first for jockey I Ortiz Jr.  The time of the race over the turf course listed as good was 2:26.02. Congratulations!  Let’s take a further look!

1st- 3- Spanish Showboat (5/1)- Today’s eventual winner from Mb Stables started fine out of the gate, but instead preferred to run near the back of the field early on.  I Ortiz Jr would situate Spanish Showboat about five lengths from the leaders as they made their way around the opening turn and he would be able to do this while riding along the rail.  At the top of the backstretch, the deficit to the lead now became seven lengths as he ran behind his old friend, Turon Warrior.  The backstretch trip was pretty uneventful for most of the field, and Spanish Showboat was soon the innermost of three wide, which consisted of each of the trainer’s three entries.  Moving into the turn, I Ortiz Jr position him to the outside of Turon Warrior as he quickly did away with Host.  Thankfully, that one was so flat in the stretch, that Spanish Showboat took that lane immediately to prepare for the pass of Foggy Vision, a horse that still seemed to be in good stride himself.  His lane would become clear for the stretch, and he was simply full of run at this point, making others who were still looking good actually seem slow.   Running in the center of the racetrack, the two lengths he needed to make up on Cju were quickly erased, and he took over the lead with plenty of time left to go.   The only one running almost as good as he was in the stretch was Volare, but she was way too far back to threaten.  Spanish Showboat wins while driving all the way to the wire, in an impressive three length romp! The time again was 2:26.02.  Spanish Showboat is a six year old gelding by Spanish Force and out of Grand Showboat.  He was bred in West Virginia by Black Tusk Racing, and was acquired by Mb Stables via Team Furey in private sales in February 2014 for $200.000.   Congratulations to all the connections!

2nd- 2- Volare (9/1)- Our mare in this race from Axeman could see them all in front of her early on, as she spotted the race leaders nearly a full ten lengths.  During the backstretch trip, we began to see T McCarthy try to shape up how the race would unfold in front of him so she could have the best running lane for herself.   Seemed to have a tough time with this, however, and still had four lengths to make up at the top of the stretch.  Eventually, she would find her way through to the outside of Foggy Vision and worked hard in the stretch to end up with this runner up position, though she was never a threat to Spanish Showboat.

3rd- 12- Cju (9/1)- Got off to an excellent start out of the gate for Maxmillion Farm, and was never deterred by his outside starting spot, being able to cross over quickly.   Opened up a length and a half advantage as they moved into the backstretch, setting the opening half in :48.40.  Six furlongs went in 1:12.73 as there was little movement in the running order at this point.  As they moved around the turn, that movement began to pick up, but Cju had pulled out to a nice advantage for himself, leading by two at the top of the stretch.  Could not hold off the top two, but his effort to remain third should not be overlooked as both Desolation Island and Foggy Vision were coming on strong.

4th- 7- Desolation Island (9/2)- Last year’s winner from Mb Stables started this race near the back of the pack, running ninth overall to start.  As the race moved into the turn, Desolation Island began to move forward, nearly at the same time his stablemate, Spanish Showboat would.  The two of them would begin to advance their positions, especially after the turn’s midpoint.  At the top of the stretch, it was looking like Spanish Showboat would be the better of the two, but Desolation Island still seemed poised for a great finish himself.  Ran hard for a while, but the push seemed to fizzle out with a furlong to go.

5th- 10- Foggy Vision (41/1)- The longest shot on the board from Sanny Village was fourth in the running order as they moved into the backstretch, but in the outside lane of three wide, five lengths from the lead.  Towards the end of the backstretch run, he would begin to inch away from the two he had been running with, and started moving closer to the leaders.  Running around the turn, he was as good as anyone and appeared to be one of the biggest challengers for Cju to have to hold off in the stretch. Fought hard all the wire, but unfortunately for the trainer, he doesn’t get a check to show for it.

6th- 6- Turon Warrior (19/1)- The winner of this race two years ago from Canadian Racing started fairly well, being midpack early while running along the rail. Continued to run in a steady fashion over the backstretch, and into the turn, but as some began to make a concerted push, Turon Warrior just did not seem as though he would be quick enough.  He hung around in the stretch, but his rivals in his field today had a little more jump in their step.  The running order finish might not be what the trainer wants, but this Warrior isn’t done.

7th- 5- I Have Arrived (7/2)- The third Mb Stables runner found himself beside his stablemate and eventual winner Spanish Showboat as they moved into the backstretch.  Looked for some running room as they approached the turn, running three wide with both of his stablemates.  Running around the turn, however, they would start to leave him behind.  Ended up being ridiculously wide in the stretch and could not post a threat.

8th- 1- Moms Guy (8/1)- The Yahudi Stables entry got off to a good start along the rail, taking the third spot, about 2 ½ lengths from the pacesetting Cju early on.  Stayed in this spot during the backstretch, and while he remained steady moving into the turn, he also seemed to be in trouble as several behind him were making moves.  He had no response for them.

9th- 4- Phooeys Warrior (16/1)- Our gelding from Blushing Meadows had no interest in the early pace, and found himself way back, ahead of only Volare, and almost ten lengths off the lead as they made their way into the backstretch.  Left behind while rounding the turn, and trailed the field as they moved in the stretch, and would only pass a couple who tired out.

10th- 8- Two Brushes (12/1)- Started much better then he would finish for Drabfantasy, breaking alertly out of the gate, and assuming the second position around the opening turn.  Stalked Cju for the backstretch trip, and tried to do so as they moved into the turn but he could not keep up with him much longer, and would fade back. Particularly poor late.

11th- 9- Host (23/1)- He was not the speedy started that we may have been expecting, as instead the Team 7 Illusions colt got off to a midpack start, running between Turon Warrior and Foggy Vision early. Midway through the race, he lost all interest and would bring up the rear of the field all the way to the end.

Track: Good
Time: :48²  1:12³  2:02¹  2:26⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 3 – 2 Paid 280.30
$1 Trifecta: 3 – 2 – 12 Paid 1,553.70

Scratched: Party Prep

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES