The Bay Ridge ($100.000 Purse)
AQU- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward Foaled in NY
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Inner Dirt
December 11, 2016

Maxmillion Farm made sure the race would be able to run by entering in a very new horse, but it would be Mb Stables enjoying the fruits of that effort as his three year old filly Retaliator put on quite a show in her first race going more then running in a long sprint.  It would be in the closing moments too, that Retaliator was at her best, so we should expect to see more good things out of her as we move into 2017.   There’s not much we can compare this race too since it was just the second running of the event but the only other winner, Clutch Situation was very similar, running in sprints most of her career and used this race to go long for the first time.   It was her seventh win a row (a streak that would not continue).  Retaliator has won five of six, as she continues to follow in the footsteps of that good ol’ Champion Instincts filly.   Aboard the winner was I Ortiz Jr, and the race was won in a time of 1:41.60.  Here’s a summary.

1st- 1- Retaliator (3/2)- Our eventual winner from Mb Stables did not get involved early and was more then happy to let the top two do their thing while she sat back about three and a half lengths into the backstretch.  Once there, she was still unhurried as jockey I Ortiz Jr waited for the ideal time to strike.  As they approached the final turn, she was just about to give Chieri the slip, and had three lengths to make up on Pippy Hype.  Ran well in the turn, and seemed to be reeling in Pippy Hype and it appeared as though a good stretch run was setting up between the two of them. A stretch battle would not occur because Retaliator made such quick and easy work of Pippy Hype that you had to wonder if that one started getting dizzy once Retaliator went by.  The final furlong was all about watching her run, pulling away from today’s competition, which may not have been the greatest, to get the win.  A win is a win!  Retaliator is a three year old filly by La Briganderie and out of Don’t Blow It.  She was bred in New York by Mb Stables, and they have been together throughout.  Congratulations to the connections!

2nd- 2- Pippy Hype (9/5)- Made her debut for Maxmillion Farm after a private sales acquisition and seemed to be in good form early.  Heading into the opening turn, she was stalking Chieri, but would make the pass for the lead soon after entering the backstretch.  Once taking the lead, she looked to be in great form, cruising along and running a half in :47.61.  In doing so, she began to pull away from Chieri as that one began to fall back into clutches of Retaliator.  Still seemed good in the turn, and ran six furlongs in 1:11.35, with the lead cut to a length and a half at the top of the stretch.  Passed with a furlong to go, but showed no fight whatsoever and was poor in the stretch, holding onto second simply because there was not another challenger in the field.

3rd- 4- Chieri (8/5)- Looking to help her trainer, D J C Racing Stables win the race for the second time, Chieri started quickly out of the gate and would lead the way around the opening turn.  Soon after officially leading at a quarter, setting that fraction in :23.79, Pippy Hype had gone by.  Lost touch with the leader in the backstretch, and Retaliator was also preparing to go by as they moved into the turn.  Passed in the turn, and was pretty much done.

4th- 3- Too Much Work (19/1)- Created to fill the field for Maxmillion Farm and looked like it on the track.  Should wind up a decent racehorse eventually.

Track: Fast
Time: :23³  :47³  1:11¹  1:41³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 2 Paid 4.80

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded