After a disappointing 11th place finish in the Pocahontas (G2), Our Athletes’ homebred filly won the biggest race of her short career at KEE on Friday.

The field broke evenly, but quickly split into two groups up front. With the speed on the outside, the rail quickly became crowded entering the turn and Desmarais, Viking Libra and French Connection from the #12 spot moved ahead of the inside horses. But it was Charm who separated herself from the pack and took the lead by  a length midway on the turn. French Connection quickly took up pursuit three wide of Viking Libra and Desmarais. The third flight included Seven Cedars, Guest Of Honor and Blackberry .

Into the backstretch, French Connection cut Charm’s lead in half with Viking Libra looking for room on the inside. Viking Libra and Seven Cedars continued to run stride for stride mid-pack while Blackberry, the eventual winner, was shuffled back to 9th with only one horse beaten. M E Smith dropped her on the rail, saving ground and letting the race unfold in front of him.

French Connection continued cutting into Charm’s lead. Viking Libra came off the rail and looked like she might go for the slight hole that opened up between the leaders. Four wide, Seven Cedars set her sites on the leaders. Blackberry still had only one horse beaten.

Around the far turn, French Connection finally caught Charm and Viking Libra split the seam between them. Seven Cedars and Guest Of Honor made a move in tandem, drawing within 1/2 length of the leaders. Behind them, Blueberry was also starting his run, looking for room up the middle.

Four wide, Seven Cedars, Quest Of Honor, French Connection, and Viking Libra hit the head of the stretch. Charm was done. Queenwood sat behind Viking Libra with Desmarais to his inside, also looking for an opening. Meanwhile, Blackberry looked trapped until Gone Gyno drifted wide and she was able to split the seam between Viking Libra and French Connection. With a furlong to run, the entire field could be covered by three lengths with the closers trying to weave their way through the weakening leaders. But it was Blackberry slipping through the wall of horses to take the lead and pulling away to win by more than a length.

It was the third win in six starts for the daughter of Reindeer Games and brings her record to 6-3-1-0 $327.400. But more importantly, it secures a spot in the BC Juvenile Fillies starting gate on BC day.

Congratulations to Our Athletes!

Order of Finish:

Blackberry – Came from well off the pace to pull away by a length in the stretch
Seven Cedars – Led briefly at the start, took the five lane throughout, stalked the pace, then made a move in the stretch to take second
Guest Of Honor – Stalked the pace throughout and held on for third
Viking Libra – Close to the pace throughout but got outrun by Guest Of Honor for third and finished fourth
Queenwood – Came from well off the lead to finish fifth
French Connection – Dueled for the lead most of the way, took the lead briefly at the head of the stretch, then weakened and finished sixth
Shes El Grand – Trailed throughout and was never a factor
Desmarais – Close early, but never really a factor
Charm – Led until the head of the stretch, then weakened to finish last

Categories: Grade I