July 26, 2016

Opening weekend at SAR saw only a single Grade I race but with the CCA Oaks for three-year-old fillies, you had some of the top sophomores at HRP do battle and Grade II winner Dirty Deeds went one better and scored her first top-flight win over Grade I Acorn winner and huge purchase The Hanging Tree. From seemingly talented new sire Folk Art, she was purchased for $40.000 last June and has come into her own this year, taking three wins from six starts for earnings of almost $500.000, including a score two back in the Grade II Summertime Oaks at SA

There is a short run into the first turn at SAR but it is so sweeping that outside horses do not lose a ton of ground and Asclepios Trail (2.10) was solid enough to get to the early lead before The Hanging Tree (*1.75) swooped up to grab command. Quickly down to the rail in front of Command And Conquer (34.80), she was nearly two-lengths clear into the backstretch with Powerful War (5.20) ranging up into second and Dirty Deeds (2.20) falling to the back of the pack. The half-mile time came up in a very rapid 47.58 and that meant no breathing room for the leader as the top three pulled well clear of the field and into the far turn, The Hanging Tree looked like she was in complete control. Powerful through six-furlongs in a sharp 1:11.10, Powerful War started to falter, leaving Asclepios Trail along the fence and the new danger coming from Dirty Deeds, who was four-lengths in arrears at the head of the lane. As The Hanging Tree moved to the rail for the final furlong, Dirty Deeds came with a sweeping move on the outside and the fast early fractions took their toll as the leader gave it up in the final jumps to lose by a half-length, with Asclepios Trail hanging on for third over Command And Conquer who Powerful War tiring to last.

As the distances get longer, Dirty Deeds seems to find enough to get to the winner’s circle in that final furlong and for the second straight start, she was able to run down the speed and score a huge win, this time in the Grade I CCA Oaks. The Grade I Alabama should provide no trouble for this improving three-year-old as she looks to cement her status at the top of the division and she will most likely face her rival, who had everything her own way and simply failed to last the nine-furlongs.

Congratulations goes out to owner Aer Stables and their three-year-old filly Dirty Deeds, a last-to-first winner of the Grade I CCA Oaks at SAR!

Prediction                             The Hanging Tree / Dirty Deeds / Command And Conquer

Winner                                  Dirty Deeds

                                                 Three-year-old bay filly

                                                 Folk Art-Sumpreme Doggy (Auto-Generated)

Owner                                    Aer Stables

Time                                       47.58, 1:11.10, 1:35.37, 1:48.02

Overall

Dirty Deeds                           2.20 broke evenly, wide into stretch, up in time

The Hanging Tree               *1.75 rushed forward, clear into lane, caught

Asclepios Trail                     2.10 even effort

Command And Conquer    34.80 sat back, mild run

Powerful War                        5.20 pressed, weakened

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES