September 9, 2015
Sent off at odds of 1-5, Dead Ant Dead Ant was expected to win the Grade II Prioress on Sunday after sunny SAR but the way she won was much easier than expected, as she simply started sprinting with a furlong to go and blew by the leaders to a 1.5-length score. Already a Grade II winner, and two time winner in three starts for her new barn, she toyed with the field and cruised to her seventh career win, earning a 98-speed rating and $180.000 in prize money, which pushes her bankroll past $650.000 from only 11 career starts.
As expected, Bally Z (25.15) broke the sharpest in the Prioress and took a brief lead from Rock Dies Happy (5.60) in the opening strides but the outside starter quickly move to command in the first furlong with Babatime (6.50) holding well along the rail. The field of five spread out evenly heading into the far turn and through a first split of 22.43, Rock Dies Happy was able to get down to the rail and save the ground she needed for the final furlong. Bally Z began to inch forward as Babatime looked for room inside and while the leader was resolute, she began to fade with two-furlongs to go as the closers moved in for the strike. Bally Z rocketed to the lead through a half-mile in 45.40 with Babatime trying to close but with a furlong to go, favourite Dead Ant Dead Ant (*0.20) finally came to play and with a steady push, she motored past en route to a docile length and a half victory that was about as easy as it gets. Bally Z held for second over Babatime while El Gran Cuffed (34.10) passed Rock Dies Happy for fourth but no one was going to deny the winner, who set a new stakes record of 1:09.85 in victory.
Dead Ant Dead Ant looks to be a locked in for a spot in the Grade I BC F&M Sprint starting gate and after her simple win in the Grade II Prioress on Sunday, she certainly looks to be heading in the right direction for her connections. The question is whether this took enough out of here and whether she will need another race in between, with a race like the Grade II Raven Run against three-year-olds as a potential stepping stone to her expected run at KEE.
Congratulations goes out to owner Wynnewood and their three-year-old filly Dead Ant Dead Ant, a well-meant winner of the Grade II Prioress at SAR!
Prediction Dead Ant Dead Ant / Rock Dies Happy / Bally Z
Winner Dead Ant Dead Ant
Three-year-old gray filly
Pink Panther-Antiquated Idea (Wild Chippy)
Owner Wynnewood
Time 22.43, 45.40, 56.96, 1:09.85 (NSR)
Overall
Dead Ant Dead Ant *0.20 patient ride, pounced, driving
Bally Z 25.15 stalked, clear late lead, caught
Babatime 6.50 between runners, mild rally
El Gran Cuffed 34.10 no threat
Rock Dies Happy 5.60 pace, faded badly
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: Grade II
