The Ballerina – Grade I [BC]
7 Furlongs Dirt Stake Purse $500.000 Filly & Mare 3 Year Olds And Up.

As usual the three year olds crushed the older horses as once more the weight allowance made it impossible for anything other than a three year old to win. So here is how the three year olds ran in todays grade one.

1st   Coldpack               John Henry               Saez L

Out of the choice of three year olds that could win the one thing this one had against it was the wide draw. At HRP however you can never tell and today was the turn of the wide draw to last home despite a fast pace. The wide gate speed push put this one out in front from the gate and after a 22 and 4 opening quarter it was fully expected to see her weaken down teh stretch like so many others have before. It never happened though and she was game to the line winning by just under a length in a very fast time. This run was top draw considering how many things were against her and i think we can certainly say she likes a fast racing surface after her weak run in the Test last time out. It will be onward to the BC lottery for this one.

2nd   Beat To The Punch  Mb Stables               Bejarano R

I thought this filly would overhaul the winner but it wasnt to be as she took two lengths off her in the final furlong but couldn’t get there in time. This was a very good effort but she just can’t seem to get her nose in front these days.

3rd   Cocoa Nut               Team 7 Illusions               Lezcano J

With ony five previous starts and one very narrow ungraded stakes win this filly beat some grade one winners today in a great effort for one with so little experience. She really has a good engine on her and can ony improve.

4th   Dame Magnifique    D J C Racing Stables  Pennington F

Was never far away but the fast pace took the sting out of her finish and she could only keep on at the one pace. This was a much better effort and she looks like she is finding some improvement from somewhere.

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