Carnoustie Impresses Again in The Vosburgh

By Nynl Stables on September 27, 2020

The Vosburgh (Grade 2) (BC) – $225.000
BEL- For Three Year Olds and Upward
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
September 26, 2020

Last month in the mud at SAR, Carnoustie opened my eyes in the way that he won the Grade 2 Amsterdam. The win was his third in four starts, but according to the odds board, there were still some people who were not impressed. Our pick to win in the preview was sent off at odds of 9/1 with Cucamonga unexpectedly getting the most play in the pick ‘em and emerging at the post-time favorite. In the Vosburgh, Carnoustie would show that the Amsterdam was not a fluke, and that he did not need an off track, as he earns his eighth win in eleven starts, and will head next to the BC Sprint if the trainer so chooses. That trainer is Smokey Stover, who wins the race for the second time in three years. He also won in 2018, with Residue. C P DeCarlo is the winning jock, and does so for the first time. Congratulations to them! The race was run in a time of 1:09.00, not one of the faster times, but all that was needed. Here is a look at it!

(¼ Mile- :22.38)- From the outside, there would be no waiting around for Stand In Line, as he shoots out to the front for Angelos Stable. He is not able to get too far ahead of the one that started right next to him, Akkadian, out of Two Hearts One Love, and the two of them head into the turn by about a length and a half. Sitting in that third position is Sinissippi Star, from D J C Racing Stables, who is slightly ahead of three horses that run evenly with one another. On the inside of that group is our eventual winner, Smokey Stover’s Carnoustie. He has Tudor One (Mb Stables) matching his stride right beside him and that one’s stablemate, Declassified doing similar a couple lanes over. Cucamonga (Tiratzo) is a half length behind them. After another length and a half, it is another threesome, who from inside to outside are, Catch The Day (Gdp Inc), Wrecking Havoc (John Henry), and Remson (Two Hearts One Love). The trailers are Reach For A Latte (Fractious) and Commanding Know (Delta Farms).

(Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- At the front, both of our early pacesetters, Stand In Line and Akkadian handle the turn well while running side by side. Approaching the top of the stretch, they remain in good form, though we begin to see the paths that others hope to take in order to get by them. In the turn, Declassified seemed the most ambitious to push forward, but as he was running in the fourth lane, he was not able to make much progress on the others. Carnoustie just had to stay glued to the rail the whole time, as there was no reason to leave it as long as there would become an opening for him. That may have seemed questionable momentarily during the turn, but enough daylight would present itself eventually. Both Tudor One and Sinissippi Star held their ground, and a little further back, Cucamonga looked to make a move. Others cut into the lead, but had a tough task ahead.

(Finish- 1:09.00)- In the stretch, Carnoustie would have to move down a lane in order to get by Akkadian who did not leave him any room. That did not matter for Carnoustie, but he had to be able to outkick Tudor One in order to get to that lane. After doing so, he looked to make the pass for the lead, and he would end up having enough time to do so. He would win this race by a length, proving that he is peaking at the right time and is definitely one to watch in the BC Sprint. Stand In Line was able to hold his line well and get the second spot, narrowly over Akkadian, so the two early pacesetters end up doing a good job here. Sinissippi Star holds off Declassified for the final paying position. Rounding out the order, it is Catch The Day, Tudor One, Cucamonga, Reach For A Latte, Wrecking Havoc, Commanding Know, and Remson.

About The Winner- Carnoustie, trained by Smokey Stover, and ridden to victory by C P DeCarlo, is a three year old gelding by Ye Charley, and is out of Happy Clapper. He was bred in California by Smokey Stover as a first quarter two year old, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his eighth in eleven starts, his third stake win, and second graded win. His career earnings are now $455.610.

Horse Name

Owner Name

Jockey

Odds

Fin

Time

SRF

Carnoustie

Smokey Stover

DeCarlo C P

9.15

1^1/2