Millions Classic Preview ($100.000 Purse)
CRC- For Three Year Olds and Upward Foaled In FL
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
November 12, 2016

In order for the seventh running of the Millions Classic Preview to go to post, one of the trainers likely had to add a second entry to be certain it would fill.   There were only four in the gate for this race, and really only three seemed to stand a chance.  Of the three, Alpha Way running here intrigued me as he had run respectably in a $1,000.000 race last month but dropped here to run for the 10% of that purse.  That had me wonder if there was an issue there, and led me to give Dev Null the nod.   In the end, Alpha Way showed that everything is great with him and gives Mb Stables and T Gaffalione their first win in the stake, doing so in 1:41.63.  Congratulations! As there was not a lot of interest in the race, given only three trainers with an entry, I am going to be brief with the recap.

1st- 4- Alpha Way (1-2)- Our eventual winner from Mb Stables was the quickest out of the gate, but was fine to allow Thank The Dealer to ultimately take the lead running into the opening turn. T Gaffalione was smart to let the rabbit go, and stalk the way into the backstretch.  Eventually completed the pass heading into the turn, and was never really challenged the rest of the way.  It was one of the easier stake stretch runs for jockey T Gaffalione, as Alpha Way cruised to the win in a time of 1:41.63.  Alpha Way is a three year old colt by Pure Steel and out of Viking Age.  He was bred in Florida by Mb Stables as a second quarter two year old, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections!

2nd- 3- Mugarooni (3/1)- The Mo Mentum Farm entry sat just off the lead around the opening turn, running in the third position.  Trailed by about four as the race moved into the backstretch. From there, he just seemed to run his own race, and it was good enough for the second spot.  Not once did he threaten Alpha Way, but was never in jeopardy of falling further.

3rd- 1- Dev Null (5/2)- Our pre-race favorite, for End Run Farm, did not start well and was by himself about five lengths back in the opening turn, and would soon drop back even more, falling as many as 7 ½ back down the backstretch.  Began making his run in the stretch, but conceded way too much ground and could not even get second.

4th- 2- Thank The Dealer (389/1)- The field filler from End Run Farm jumped out to the early lead while stablemate Dev Null lingered in the back.  The first quarter went in :24.06 and half in :47.84.  Called it a day once passed for the lead.

Track: Fast
Time: :24   :47⁴  1:11²  1:41³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 4 – 3 Paid 3.00

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded