The Personal Ensign – GI [BC]
1 1/8 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $500.00 Filly & Mare 3 Year Olds And Up.
1st Boardwalk Authority Winning Link Stables Espinoza V 1:47.90
I billed this as a clash of the titans and whilst it was a great race it certainly didn’t turn into the race I thought it would be.
In 25 previous starts this horse had never made the running through the first half mile, that in itself is a pretty amazing stat but if you add to it this was her first win in any sort of graded stakes against the very best fillies and mares it becomes one of those results that had plenty of punters scratching their head.
It is not like this five year old didn’t deserve a big win, she was only beaten a half length in the Apple Blossom, ran third in this race last year and has been a regular in some of the top female races for the past two seasons but try as you might it was hard to see her turning the tables from a wide draw against the best of the best.
But today all the stars aligned in one of those results that happens in this type of race. Jumping out of the gate and using the wide gate speed push she set a solid pace in front but was pretty much left alone to her own devices which on this race engine tends to mean that the speed holds on. Sure enough the others let her slip away before the AI decided to try and catch her but it was all too late and she held on for a fairly comfortable length win.
Congratulations to the trainer who is riding a wave at the moment right at the right time of the season.
2nd= Devil In High Heels The Sidley Stud Lopez P 1:48.21
One of the most consistent mares in training she was in her usual spot in transit and ground away to share second in a typical effort from this great mare. Strangely she won the Shuvee on this very track and distance in a faster time from a similar position but today she couldn’t find the finish she did that day. That is how it rolls at HRP, today she didn’t find the finish tomorrow she might so I wouldn’t see this defeat changing her chance in the BC.
2nd= Starting Over TwinTowersRacing Sanchez M J 1:48.21
Got too far back for her amazing turn of foot to be enough today. This was a very similar effort as we saw in the Distaff last year where the wide draw sent her too far back and she just flew at the end without a realistic chance of winning. Give her an inside draw and it may have been a different race but that seems to be the difference these days and this stunning eight year old will be back to fly another day.
4th Great Smoke D J C Racing Stables Pennington F 1:48.34
A solid effort for fourth but the AI never really gave her much of a chance to get involved in the finish. Still very lightly raced she has a very bright future and will be around for a while longer than some of her rivals today.
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
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