Still rolling along with win after win, Oquinn Farm has definitely found the right program for four year old Bad Days. Sent out as the 9-5 post time favorite, this would be his first Graded company win, and his second straight stakes title.
- Ali ( Gr.III) Purse- $200.000
- Keenland Park- Four Four Years Old and up
- One Mile and one eighth in Distance- Main track
While some trainers are for gelding a colt and others are totally against the idea, since Bad Days made that trip to the vet, he has won six of his past seven races and it doesn’t look like he will be stopping any time soon. He has in his past three starts sat somewhere between four to six lengths shy of the pace, and when his rider gets him on his right lead off the turn for home, watch this guy work his magic. While he had to make the step up in weight in his past two stakes starts, I don’t think even carrying 126 pounds will halt this guy. It will be interesting to see which path he takes for a possible fifth straight victory. The Gr.III Salvatore Mile at MTH may be a nice fit. On the day, Bad Days ran the only sub 1:48 time for this event with a 1:47.76, the third faster for the Ali.
It was obvious that rider T McCarthy who was aboard Magne Account ( RNP Stables) knew who he had to face for the win here. Staying with his focus on Bad Days as he would tuck in behind that runner off the turn onto the backstretch, then sit to his outside flank around the far turn. As both horses hit the top of the lane, Bad Days would find a door open wide at the rail as he pushed on, while Magne Account would go out and wait for an opening between Niner So Dreamy ( Serenity Stables ) and Plucky Thinking ( Gdp Inc ) to charge forward. He was given the runner-up placing after a photo decision with D J C Racing Stables Belt High. If this five year old can ever get a clean shot down the stretch at these longer affairs, a win is definitely in his near future.
As mentioned previously, Belt High would put in a brilliant performance from the extreme outside down the stretch to almost steal away the runner-up position. Still winless in three starts this season, but has been finishing tough near the wire. Add to that his SRF numbers have been on the climb, so it wont be long before a visit to the winner’s enclosure for him as well.
The final purse share was awarded to Nakamura Stables‘ Hindenburg Tour, who was hoping to bring home that trainers third straight victory in the Ali. He definitely was the reason for the opening along the rail for the eventual winner to sprint home.
| Race #3 18:45 Ali – Grade III 1 1/8 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $200.00 Open 4 Year Olds And Up. |
| ## | Horse Name | Owner Name | Jockey | Odds | Fin | Time | SRF | ||
| 4 | Bad Days | Oquinn Farm | Hernandez B J Jr | 1.90 | 11 | 1:47.76 | 99 | ||
| 6 | Magne Account | RNP Stables | McCarthy T | 10.95 | 2hd | 1:48.01 | 98 | ||
| 5 | Belt High | D J C Racing Stables | Franco G | 13.20 | 31/4 | 1:48.05 | 98 | ||
| 7 | Hindenburg Tour | Nakamura Stables | Cedillo A | 3.70 | 4nk | 1:48.13 | 97 | ||
| 1 | Niner So Dreamy | Serenity Stables | Borel C H | 8.50 | 5nk | 1:48.19 | 97 | ||
| 3 | Plucky Thinking | Gdp Inc | Davis D | 4.20 | 61 | 1:48.26 | 96 | ||
| 8 | Brazen Deception | Nakamura Stables | Tunon M | 8.75 | 73/4 | 1:48.50 | 95 | ||
| 2 | Padlock | Threshold | Pennington F | 13.75 | 8 | 1:48.66 | 94 |
Track: Fast
Time: :471 1:103 1:351 1:473
$2 Mutuel Prices:
| 4 – Bad Days | 5.80 | 3.50 | 3.00 |
| 6 – Magne Account | 7.60 | 19.70 | |
| 5 – Belt High | 6.80 |
$1 Exacta: 4 – 6 Paid 58.80
$1 Trifecta: 4 – 6 – 5 Paid 1,456.00
Duffer
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
