September 20, 2016
A spot in the Grade I BC Mile was up for grabs in the WO Mile on a soggy Saturday afternoon and Compress came back off a close finish in the BEL Derby and ran down Grade II winner Well Suited for his second top-class score of the year. A winner of the Grade I FL Derby but only 12th in the KYD after making a bold bid at the head of the lane, he sat quietly behind a quick leader and sprinted clear late, earning his sixth career win and a lifetime best 102-speed rating, one of the tops in the division and one that bodes well for his chances at SA in early November.
The only entrant in the WO Mile to really break slowly from the gate was Tin Lizzie (25.20) and while he settled at the rear of the field, a cavalry charge loomed up front with Rare Coincidence (5.30) taking a minor lead from a host of challengers including Eastern Townships (32.40) and Missing In Action (8.40). The good turf led to a modest opening split of 23.05 as Rare Coincidence took a clear lead out wide and while former champion Seven Years (42.30) was caught very deep into the track, Well Suited (*3.90) and Compress (6.05) got ideal trips just in back of the leaders with plenty of options afforded to them. Sir Tom (20.75) loomed into contention as the field moved to the far bend and a quickening half-mile in 46.15 saw the leader in the clear with his rivals stacked up behind him, leading some to believe that a closer was ready to pounce. Which closer was still to be determined but as everyone held their own, Well Suited found the room he needed four-wide and came through inside of Seven Years, while Eastern Townships looked for a space along the rail. Five rivals lined up behind Rare Coincidence through six-furlongs in 1:09.85 and those testing fractions took their toll on the longtime leader and with just over a furlong to run, he was swallowed up by Well Suited, with Compress finding his stride in the middle of the pack. Those two started to move forward as Seven Years weakened from his very wide run and while the stalkers came up empty, Jamfest (5.55) tried to find his best stride over the demanding going. The benefit of carrying less weight is always felt over a less-than-firm turf and the three-year-olds were able to hold their own to the wire, with Compress coming on in the last 1/16th to upset favoured Well Suited by a half-length, with Iron Mann coming on in the middle of the track for third over a closing Tin Lizzie. Seven Years ran exceptionally well in fifth while Jamfest could not close enough, while finishing ahead of Sir Tom and Swamp Fox (11.50). Eastern Townships and Missing In Action came up flat, Antelope Storm (14.60) showed nothing, Rare Coincidence backed through the field and King Rioja (19.90) drew in but finished last after a tough journey from start to finish.
Compress made his bid for year-end honours with his second Grade I score to date in the WO Mile on Saturday and with it, earned his spot in the starting gate for the BC Mile to go along with a potential race in the BC Dirt Mile or even the Classic. The turf seems to be the right suit for his running style and with four wins from five starts over the surface, he could become a champion with a win over the same distance in a few weeks time.
Congratulations goes out to owner Cherrytree Hill Farm and their three-year-old colt Compress, a come-from-behind winner of the Grade I WO Mile!
Prediction Jamfest / Missing In Action / Well Suited
Winner Compress
Three-year-old bay colt
Crush-Catahoula Rose (Speeding Home)
Owner Cherrytree Hill Farm
Time 23.05, 46.15, 1:09.85, 1:34.20
Overall
Compress 6.05 sat patiently, found room late, up in time
Well Suited *3.90 between rivals, held sway, caught
Iron Mann 10.35 solid late gains
Tin Lizzie 25.20 broke slow, made up ground late
Seven Years 42.30 wide journey throughout
Jamfest 5.55 no late momentum
Sir Tom 20.75 even effort
Swamp Fox 11.50 no threat
Eastern Townships 32.40 stalked, faded
Missing In Action 8.40 stalked, faded
Antelope Storm 14.60 outrun
Rare Coincidence 5.30 set pace, backed up
King Rioja 19.90 outrun
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
