Connally BC Turf (Grade 3)- $250.000 Purse
HOU- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Half on the Turf
January 29, 2017

There were not many people out there who believed Gila Bend had a chance to win the Connally BC Turf on Sunday.  While everyone else in the field went off at offs of 6/1 or better, Gila Bend was completely disregarded and went off at 92/1.  We’d love to tell you that we thought differently, but he would not be one of our picks either.    So, how did this happen?  Well, it is a little silly for him to have been *that* disregarded in comparison to the others given that this was his sixth straight race at this distance, and two of the prior runs in the streak were also victories in Grade 3’s.  It just seemed like there were a couple of better options in this field.     However, no one would be better then him today, and Gila Bend makes his trainer, Barcelona Farms, a first time winner in the stake.  The same also holds true for jockey R Bejarano.  The time of the victory was 2:25.51.  It was just the second time the race was run at this distance, but it was .01 quicker then last year’s!  Congratulations to the winners! Let’s look at it more.

1st- 1- Gila Bend (92/1)- There were two different races run in the early moments.  The first race was amongst those who wanted to run a quick pace, and they quickly and easily separated themselves from those who wanted to take it easy early.  Those three would save up their energy for the end, and would end up being the top three in the race while the early speed completely collapsed.  The Barcelona Farms entry was with those back three, but importantly he would be a length or so ahead of them when they began to move forward.  At the top of the backstretch the final time, he trailed by nine lengths, but began to cut into that as this portion of the race carried on.  He would be the first of the back three to begin making their move, and had a vital length and a half on Exactly As Planned at this point.  R Bejarano was able to get a clear lane in the stretch and pounced on it while F Prat couldn’t make up his mind which way to go.   At that point, he had given the slip to the rest of the field, the wire was coming up and those who did bet him were screaming their lungs out.  The time of the race again, was 2:25.51.  Gila Bend is a six year old gelding by Hail Two Bob and out of Gila Cat.  He was bred in California by Barcelona Farms as a first quarter two year old, and they have been together throughout! Congratulations to the connections!

2nd- 4- Exactly As Planned (5/2)- The start of the race probably did go exactly as planned for Maxmillion Farm as he let Hulk Hogan set a blistering pace while his top horse, Exactly As Planned, hung out in the back.  At one point, Exactly As Planned began to even disappear from the viewer as he saved everything for the end.  At the top of the backstretch on the second time around, there were eleven lengths to make up.  Responded to the move of Gila Bend as they moved into the turn, and was able to get by Volare pretty quickly before that one realized it was time to go.   Handled the turn nicely, and seemed to have a great lane for the stretch but F Prat (who is struggling in 2017 here) was oddly indecisive about how to get around Hulk Hogan.  By the time he recovered, the chance to beat Gila Bend was lost.

3rd- 5- Volare (6/1)- Another try at taking on the boys for Axeman showed Volare to be competitive with them, but not quite be able to beat all of them.  Like the two that finished ahead of her, Volare was content to hang out at the back and let those at the front beat themselves.  She trailed by nine the first time across the finish line.  May have waited a little too long to make her move, as entering the final turn what had been a two length advantage on Exactly As Planned disappeared and she was passed by that one, and Gila Bend had pulled away by two.  She kicked it into gear quite well when she did, but she could only stay level with the top two, and gets the third place finish to show for it.

4th- 3- Tucson (5/1)- The Aer Stables entry got off to a decent start, and would settle in to the third position about three lengths from the lead down the backstretch the first time.  Backed off from the fast pace as they moved into the frontstretch and began to cruise along about five lengths from the front for a little while.  Looked to advance his position at about the time the race reached a mile.  At the top of the stretch, he seemed full of run.  There was just one problem, those behind him who were saving absolutely everything for this time were able to have a little more in the tank in the final furlong.

5th- 6- Hulk Hogan (5/2)- The Hulkster ran wild on the field out of the gate for Maxmillion Farm and opened up to a two length lead as they approached the first turn.  Had the opponents pinned up against the ropes moving into the frontstretch, extending the lead to three as the half went in :46.34, and six furlongs in 1:09.83.  As the field moved around the turn, all the Hulkamaniacs in attendance were clapping and stamping for their equine hero to hang tough and not succumb to fatigue.  Well, since this race was not scripted, he would indeed tire out in the final turn.

6th- 2- Play Ball (5/2)- Started better then he would finish for Mb Stables, stalking the early pace set by Hulk Hogan in the early moments.  Kept in the shadow of the Hulkster without really being pressured by anyone else behind him during the first half of the race.  Struck out before Hulk Hogan tapped out, deciding he was done prior to entering the final turn.

Track: Firm
Time: :46¹  1:09⁴  1:59³  2:25²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 4 Paid 352.00
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 4 – 5 Paid 1,273.40

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES