August 17, 2016

Destined For The Top was clearly the class of the Vandal Stakes field and on Sunday afternoon at WO, he ran away with his third straight victory, second on the turf and first in added-money company for owner Red Square Stables. A son of Mrs B X Bronze Sabre, an offspring of champions Bronze Sabre and Mrs Bombastic, he keeps improving as the distances increase and he now has a 92-speed rating and more than $137.000 in earnings with plenty on the horizon for this impeccably bred juvenile.

Ye Charley (1.85) broke best in the Vandal but Destined For The Top (*1.25) did not let him get away with an easy lead, keeping the pressure on in the first furlong with Palais du Luxembourg (39.00) in between them. An opening split of 23.10 saw the two favourites nose to nose with Spanish Gift (282.95) the only one caught wide but as the field moved around the turn, Destined For The Top took command and was almost a length in front in the blink of an eye. A half-mile in 45.74 was well within the grasp of the favourite, with both him and Ye Charley well clear of the rest, and despite the backfield starting to close, the final furlong was all but a procession. Destined For The Top was more than a length in the clear of Ye Charley and with Spanish Gift charging for third, that was the order of finish with little to take away from the excellent winner. Macbeth (3.60) came through briefly for fourth with Secret City (6.05) a lackluster sixth while Palais du Luxembourg trailing home after contesting the early fractions.

When Destined For The Top and Ye Charley met in early July, they finished first and third and with no one in between them, they finished with the top two placings once again in the Vandal, with the former taking his third straight win and second over the WO turf. Distance does not seem to be an issue and both will look to step up in the Summer Stakes, with eyes on the BC Juvenile Turf later in the year as the action really heats up in the division.

Congratulations goes out to owner Red Square Stables and their two-year-old colt Destined For The Top, a going-away winner of the Vandal Stakes at WO!

Prediction                           Destined For The Top / Ye Charley / Secret City

Winner                                Destined For The Top

                                               Two-year-old bay colt

                                               Mrs B X Bronze Sabre-Choc Clock Crown (King Of Nebraska)

Owner                                  Red Square Stables

Time                                      23.10, 45.74, 1:08.74, 1:14.73

Overall

Destined For The Top       *1.25 broke smartly, inside track, never better

Ye Charley                            1.85 outside run, second best throughout

Spanish Gift                        282.95 wide run, up for minor share

Macbeth                                3.60 even effort

Secret City                             6.05 no threat

Palais du Luxembourg      39.00 brief speed, faded

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded