PEN Mile (Grade 2)- $500.000 Purse
PEN- For Three Year Olds
One Mile on the Turf
June 1, 2019
You had to stay up late to watch the PEN Mile live, but it proved to be well worth it in the end. Both of the top threats in this race stepped up and ran a great race, and provided the anticipated stretch duel we were hoping for, to an extent. Arkenstone was more active up front, but that did not deter City Of Bones, who ran exceptionally well when it mattered most to get the victory in a convincing manner, on a surface listed as good. The winning trainer of City Of Bones is John Henry, and its his first win in the race. That is also true for jockey R Bejarano. Congratulations to them! Note that Tinecipher would end up scratching, adding his name to the scratch list with General Ferro, who decided to go to BEL and win the Pennine Ridge instead. The time of the win was 1:34.35, let’s take a look!
(1/4 Mile- :23.99)- It was a steady start for many, though no one looked to jump to the lead all that quickly. Eventually, someone has to be first, and that would be Feathers Not Dots at this point for trainer, Team 7 Illusions. To his inside was Arkenstone, out of Mb Stables, who was only a head behind. The distance was similar to third place Mysterious Moon, the unexpected post time favorite from Fractious. Grandiose was right there with them for D J C Racing Stables, and these four took a two length advantage over the rest of the field. The eventual winner, City Of Bones, from John Henry, led the second group, trailing by three. Magne Bern (Gdp Inc) was right along side, and Hollywood Gem (Estero Farms), the trailer, was still within four and a half lengths.
(½ Mile- :47.51)- Rounding the first turn and moving into the backstretch, there are still two groups of horses running together. The front four sees Feathers Not Dots and Arkenstone going at it, with the looming presence of Mysterious Moon on the rail, but none of them seem to beating each other up to do so. Grandiose is now in a stalking position of those three. After them, the gap is now three to the second group of horses which is now led by Magne Bern while having City Of Bones a half length back on the outside. Hollywood Gem trails, but is still with this group.
(Top OF Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- As the field moves into the turn, the action picks up, and City Of Bones is the main player in this. He makes an outside move and quickly begins to cut into the distance that had existed between the two packs. By the type they reach the top of the stretch, he’s cut the deficit to two and a half lengths. He’s still just fifth, but has plenty of run coming. At the front, Arkenstone starts to look a little better then those he had been running with and clears them by a length. The stretch duel was setting up. Both Mysterious Moon and Feathers Not Dots looked like they’d be clinging to their positions at this point, and Grandiose started to come up a little empty. Both Hollyood Gem and Magne Bern close their own gaps to about three lengths but would have to maneuver traffic a bit.
(Finish- 1:34.35)- Arkenstone begins to pull away from those he had been running with just enough, but he would need to do more. On the outside, City Of Bones was coming and running with an even more powerful stride. In the stretch, he would actually make the pass for the win a lot easier then it seemed like it would be, as Arkenstone simply had no answer for his challenger. With clear track in front of him, City Of Bones would not be denied and picks up the hard fought win by half a length. Arkenstone is second, a length ahead of a gaggle of opponents. Magne Bern is third in the three way photo for show, ahead of Hollywood Gem and Mysterious Moon, wither Feathers Not Dots in close proximity. Grandiose tired into the final spot.
About The Winner- City Of Bones, trained by John Henry, and ridden to victory by R Bejarano, is a three year old gelding by City Of Angels, and is out of Crease. He was bred in West Virginia by John Henry as a second quarter two year old, the only trainer that he has ever had. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his third in eight starts, and his second stake win, each being graded. His career earnings are now $550.600.
| ## | Horse Name | Owner Name | Jockey | Odds | Fin | Time | SRF | |||
|
City Of Bones | John Henry | Bejarano R | 6.50 | 11/2 | 1:34.35 | — | |||
|
Arkenstone | Mb Stables | Colon L H | 5.50 | 21 | 1:34.49 | — | |||
|
Magne Bern | Gdp Inc | Pennington F | 7.35 | 3nk | 1:34.73 | — | |||
|
Hollywood Gem | Estero Farms | Lanerie C J | 3.35 | 4hd | 1:34.79 | — | |||
|
Mysterious Moon | Fractious | Gutierrez Mario | 1.05 | 51/2 | 1:34.82 | — | |||
|
Feathers Not Dots | Team 7 Illusions | Carmouche K | 37.75 | 61 | 1:34.92 | — | |||
|
Grandiose | D J C Racing Stables | Velazquez J R | 29.15 | 7 | 1:35.19 | — |
Track: Good
Time: :234 :472 1:103 1:341
$2 Mutuel Prices:
| 9 – City Of Bones | 15.00 | 3.50 | 2.60 |
| 4 – Arkenstone | 3.70 | 2.70 | |
| 6 – Magne Bern | 3.20 |
$1 Exacta: 9 – 4 Paid 10.60
$1 Trifecta: 9 – 4 – 6 Paid 51.60
Scratched: Tinecipher, General Ferro
— NS
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
