May 26, 2015

The skies over LS opened up Monday afternoon for the Memorial Day holiday but that did not stop the running of the Grade III LS Handicap and recent TX Mile winner Clementine Cottage doubled up over the Dallas-area oval with a resounding off-the-pace score by a length, going away. A colt by Sea Cottage who was claimed for $40.000 after winning in style at DMR, he has been on quite a roll as of late with six wins in his last eight starts including these back to back stakes scores, this one with a mammoth 100-speed rating that pushed his earnings close to $500.000 in the process.

Sloppy conditions in Texas did not play well for many in the LS Handicap field and Conditional Gold (10.30) and Nashua Flair (1.60) took up the early running into the first turn, although no one really seemed keen on setting the pace. Everyone tucked into a single file order, apart from Nashua Flair two-wide on the lead, and as the quintet passed an opening split of 25.25, it was clear that the sprint would be on with whomever was in contention making their charge late. Heading into the backstretch, the two leaders was almost even and more than three-lengths clear of the rest and through a half-mile in a modest 50.53, only Rocket Man (3.70) seemed to be making any headway on the leaders. However, going into the far turn, things started to change with Conditional Gold starting to show signs of weakness and as Rocket Man swooped up to overtake Nashua Flair, Clementine Cottage (*1.10) emerged on the scene from in behind rivals and angled four-wide with his own sweeping move. The early leaders were spent through six-furlongs in 1:15.71 with Rocket Man the clear leader over Clementine Cottage and as those two sprinted away, the stage was set for a dramatic run to the wire. Rocket Man had the inside course and a good lead on the favourite but the outside was clearly the place to be running, especially with better footing, and just outside the furlong pole, Clementine Cottage took the lead and pulled away, eventually getting the better of his rival by just over a length. It was a clear nine-lengths back to Flying Shawklit (34.35), who ran out late to grab third, while Nashua Flair and Conditional Gold backed up badly in the lane to finish well behind the winner in fourth and fifth respectively.

Owner A And I Stables has had some good horses over the years but Clementine Cottage might just be their breakthrough star and since being claimed for $40.000 last July, has turned into a multiple Grade III winner with his score in the LS Handicap, to back up his TX Mile win. A race like the PRM Cornhusker Handicap might be right up his alley, with another big purse on the line, but the Gold Cup at SA might be the proper stepping stone to see if he can handle the class, and the move out to the Classic ten-furlong distance.

Congratulations goes out to owner A And I Stables and their four-year-old colt Clementine Cottage, a going-away winner of the Grade III LS Handicap!

Prediction                        Clementine Cottage / Nashua Flair / Flying Shawklit

Winner                             Clementine Cottage

                                            Four-year-old black colt

                                            Sea Cottage-Carry Us Clementine (Carius)

Owner                               A And I Stables

Time                                   25.25, 50.53, 1:15.71, 1:46.40

Overall

Clementine Cottage        *1.10 patient ride, angled clear, driving

Rocket Man                      3.70 stalked, clear late, no response for winner

Flying Shawklit               34.35 minor late rally

Nashua Flair                    1.60 pressed, weakened

Conditional Gold             10.30 set inside pace, faded badly

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: Grade III