Real Good Deal Stakes ($150.000 Purse)
DMR- For Three Year Olds Foaled in CA
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
July 27, 2016

It’s been eight years since Australia Wide had visited the winner’s circle in the Real Good Deal Stakes, but a great effort by Bo Jangles allowed him to pick up his third win in the stake, the most of any trainer.  After his first couple races, Bo Jangles has been a consistent race horse, and has never failed to hit the board.  His win in the Real Good Deal was his third in a row and fifth in his last seven starts. He continues to do more and more with each start, so perhaps we’ll see him in graded company soon.  Or possibly Australia Wide will simply keep him running against other Californians. Perhaps a little surprisingly, it is the first win for R Bejarano in this race. Congratulations to the winners!  The winning race time of 1:21.60 sets a new stake record. Here’s a quick look at how the race played out.

1st- 4- Bo Jangles (5/2)- The eventual winner from Australia Wide wasn’t the quickest of the field out of the gate, being sixth and three lengths out after the opening quarter mile.  R Bejarano did not wait around to begin to move his entry forward, and as a result Bo Jangles had advanced to third and cut the gap in half before they even began rounding this turn.  He was really the horse in this juncture of the race to show an interest in advancing, as the others seemed content to just ride along.  Bo Jangles handled the turn well, and emerged with the lead as they approached the exit.    At the top of the stretch, with just a bit over a furlong to go, Bo Jangles had opened up a length and a half advantage, as his two main challengers, Double C and Going Nowhere Fast began to emerge from the pack.  He responded with a bit more run and seemed as though he would hold on.  However, in the final half furlong a furious late bid by Double C put that certainty in doubt.  In the end, the wire came up just in the nick of the time for Bo Jangles to be able to defeat Double C here.  Bo Jangles is a three year old colt by Better Tip Toe (Chai Latte, Charley Farley) and out of Hardsell.  He was bred in California as a second quarter two year old by Wynnewood.  After passing through LionKing Stables, Australia Wilde picked him up in private sales for $35.000 in October 2015.  Congratulations to the connections!

2nd- 3- Double C (9/1)- Bounced back well from his last start for Team 7 Illusions.  He started well out of the gate, and would run just off the lead, about two lengths from the leaders in the opening moments.  Ran well in the turn, and really responded nicely at the top of the stretch to answer challenges from the likes of Going Nowhere Fast.  It seemed as though he would be battling for second in the stretch, but he stayed with it and nearly came away with the win at the end.

3rd- 2- Going Nowhere Fast (4/1)- Started in the middle of the back for Mb Stables.   Took a three wide lane in the back stretch to situate himself nicely in the shadow of the eventual winner.  Midway through the turn, J Talamo told him it was time to make his move, and Going Nowhere Fast responded nicely with run.  He had to go wide to accomplish this.  In the stretch, he went somewhere, being able to pass a few, but he could never make up the ground on Bo Jangles.

4th- 6- Pretty Ghost (11/1)– Did not start all that well for D J C Racing Stables, and found himself at the back of the main pack, and ahead of just the two probable closers as they moved into the turn.  As he got near the top of the stretch, V Espinoza did the only thing with his horse that was possible and swung him out about six or seven wide.  Pretty Ghost was good in the stretch, and probably got the best finish he was going to get regardless of the trip.

5th- 1- El Gran George (9/2)- The Night Mare Racing entry got off to an average start along the rail and would match strides with Double C just a couple lengths from the pacesetters.  He would be content to ride there along the turn, and when challenges started coming from behind, El Gran George was not able to pick it up as well.  He ends up being passed by closers, but passing those who called it a day en route to an uneventful midpack finish.

6th- 8- Lightning Bolt (6/1)- The Blushing Meadows entry went to the back of the field immediately at the start of the race.  Not to worry, he’s been a deep closer before.  In the turn, he would begin to position himself for the charge, but it never really materialized.  He would get closer to others in the field, but never made an impact on the leaders.

7th- 9- Nebraska Bluff (12/1)- Broke alertly out of the gate for Allinthegate, challenging Carry The Lillies briefly for the lead before opting to stalk him in the second position.  Continued to stalk the leader around the opening turn, but when they started coming on string behind him, Nebraska Bluff could not keep up.

8th- 7- Le Chief (60/1)- Not surprisingly, the longshot from Team 7 Illusions started at the back of the field, ahead of only Lightning Bolt, as he is also one who prefers this style.  Started to make a move at the same time as Lightning Bolt, but the bid would die off mid-stretch.

9th- 5- Carry The Lillies (7/1)- Our pre-race selection from Chili King Stables didn’t make us look bad from the start, as he jumped out to the lead and set the opening quarter in :23.02, and continued to lead the field on the backstretch and going into the turn.  Showed the way around the turn, but once Bo Jangles got by, Carry The Lillies became more concerned with his post-race plans.

Track: Fast
Time: :23   :45³  1:09¹  1:21³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 4 – 3 Paid 31.90
$1 Trifecta: 4 – 3 – 2 Paid 114.10

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded