2/19/22

  11  FG    Risen Star Stakes (GII) [KYD]

             $400.000     3yo       1 1/8m       Dirt            122lbs

Despite winning three of his last four starts, Dawson Farms’ Distorted Reasoning was dismissed at 15/1 odds for Saturday’s Risen Star Stakes (GII) and what with all of the fast filly frenzy, were you surprised?  Well, the bay gelding sat mid-pack through the early goings of this all important TC prep, moved up on the far turn, battled through the lane and went clear late to win by a length in a final time of 1:48 for the mile and an eighth stakes.  Everymanforhimself, rightfully named in light of the boy/girl saga, set the pace throughout but was caught late, and took the place by a length over The Martian, then a quarter length back to Changing Times, taking the minor money.

The field loaded into the gate on a sunny day here at FG and away in good order with Botched and Verve away well, Main Flirt and Everymanforhimself on their inside of that duo, a gap to The Martian, Distorted Reasoning between horses, Ask Forfree Delivery on the outside, then a gap to Changing Times on the outside of Union Mills, the then trailing trio of Boardwalk Empire, Zin and Liberia. 

They dashed off around the clubhouse turn and made their way onto the backside with six furlongs to run and Botched was four wide and showing the way.  Everymanforhimself, Verve and Main Flirt on his inside.  A gap of three back to Distorted Reasoning in the three path with The Martian on his inside, Ask Forfree Delivery on his outside then down to the rail for Union Mills, another gap to Liberia saving ground, Changing Times out wide, then the trialing duo of Boardwalk Empire and Zin.

Down the backside and now into the far turn with three and a half furlongs to run and the front-end battle continued with Everymanforhimself now with a short lead, Botched still caught wide but digging in, down to the rail for Main Flirt and Verve still tracking along.  Another length and a half back to Distorted Reasoning, with The Martian just to his inside then down to the rail for Union Mills.  Back towards the outside for Ask Forfree Delivery, Changing Times widest of all, Liberia behind a wall of horses, then a gap to the trailers, Boardwalk Empire and Zin. 

Around the turn and into the lane, the were moving past the three-sixteenth pole and skipped off to a big lead, Distorted Reasoning fanned out and was moving forward from the pack, then The Martian in the middle of the track, back down to the rail to Main Flirt, Botched headed in the wrong direction as he’d had enough, Verve on his inside, Changing Times wide and trying to find more, Ask Forfree Deliver just to his inside, Union Mills skimming the rail, Liberia on his flank, Boardwalk Empire and Zin.

Now in deep stretch and to the finish, the money was on the line and it was time to see who wanted it the most…  Everymanforhimself with the lead, but Distorted Reasoning was closing fast down the outside… I don’t think Everymanforhimself even saw him coming and before you could say filly-fever, Distorted Reasoning was up to take the lead and pull away to win by a length.  Everymanforhimself continued on well to take the second spot with The Martian in the middle of the track taking third. Changing Times made a late run wide to take the fourth spot then Main Flirt fifth, Boardwalk Empire sixth, Ask Forfree Delivery seventh, Botched eighth, Liberia ninth, Verve tenth, Union Mills eleventh and Zin closed this one out. 

Distorted Reasoning is a 3yo bay gelded son of Positive Reasoning – Distorted Sound, by Far West, and he was bred in Fla by his owner, Dawson Farms.  This was his fourth win from seven starts and his first graded score.  Now showing lifetime earnings of $396.000, he looks to be well on his way to Louisville for that first weekend in May… but I’m sure we will see him again before that.  Congrats to the connections!  
This was a new stakes record, although the race has only been run at a mile and an eight for a few years (after being a mile and a sixteenth for quite some time).  It should be noted that this was the fastest mile and an eighth to date for the TC hopefuls, so Dawson Stables has a good one, for sure.

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast                 Time: :47²  1:11   1:35²  1:48
$1 Exacta: 6 – 5 Paid 172.60           $1 Trifecta: 6 – 5 – 2 Paid 639.20
Scratched: Tanerko, Two Pinnacles

Distorted Reasoning mid-pack 3p to the far turn, moved to 5p into the lane finding racing room and moving forward into the stretch, closed late to catch the leader just inside the sixteenth, pulling away late. Everymanforhimself tracked the pace 2p to midway on the backside, up to take a short lead from there, went clear into the lane shifting down to the rail, caught, game.  The Martian in hand 3p, patiently handled to the far turn, split horses when asked, best of rest.  Changing Times rated, fanned widest for the drive, evenly late.  Main Flirt inside trip, tracked the pace to the furlong marker, nothing for the drive.  Boardwalk Empire rated, passed tiring rivals.  Ask Forfree Delivery wide trip, wearly late.  Botched set the pace to mid-way on the backside, steady retreat.  Liberia was not a factor.  Verve pressed the pace 3p to the lane, tired.  Union Mills was not a factor.  Zin trailed throughout. 

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES, TC 2021-2023, THE TRIPLE CROWN