The Inaugural Stakes ($100.000 Purse)
TAM- For Colts and Geldings Two Years Old
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
December 19, 2015

The tenth running of the Inaugural Stakes looked to be going the way of our pre-race favorite, Time To Ride, and our second choice, Dogs Got Wings could see them all in front of him for much of this race.  In the stretch, both of them went in opposite directions and while it will go down as a disappointing run for Time To Ride, it becomes a great feat for Dogs Got Wings.   This gelding had only one race in his career up to this point, coming in his debut in a short affair out at GG.  The trainer, Downwind Stables, put him into graded competition immediately off of that, and he would get some good results, just not another win.   After seeing what he might be able to do while running longer, Downwind cut him back to a sprint here, and got the result he was hoping for.    It is going to be pretty interesting to see now what happens with Dogs Got Wings.  He put the kind of stretch run together that might get the trainer thinking about having him go long again, although he is showing great promise sprinting.  Enough promise to make you wonder just how good he might be able to become.  We shall see what happens in 2016 with him, but for now Downwind Stables can celebrate his first Inaugural Stakes victory, as can his jockey, B Pedroza.  The winning race time of 1:09.09 would set a new record for the stake, but does not eclipse the track record.  Let’s see how this race was won!

1st- 6- Dogs Got Wings (5/2)- Our eventual race winner for Downwind Stables was simply waiting for his time to fly in the early going.  During the backstretch, he could see them all in front of him, although he was never significantly off the pace.  He would have a three wide position as they moved into the turn, and this would be beneficial as it allowed for a clear lane to advance.  In the turn there would be some advancement, but at the very top of the stretch, there was an outright explosion.  Dogs Got Wings emphatically responded to B Pedroza’s urging and it didn’t take long for him to draw level with the pacesetters in the stretch.  In the final half furlong, he had left everyone behind him and only Mystery Boy was able to keep this from turning into a rout late.  Dogs Got Wings was pulling away significantly in the dying moments, and that really has to make you wonder if the trainer will keep him sprinting or take more shots at longer distances.   Regardless, he got a bright 2016 ahead of him.  Dogs Got Wings is a two year old gelding by Dogs Bachelor Party, and out of Snow Angelic.  He was bred in West Virginia by Hawthorneshorsefarm as a yearling but sold in a private sale for $35.000 almost exactly a year prior to this race to Downwind Stables.  Congratulations to all of the connections!

2nd- 3- Mystery Boy (8/1)- More then likely, someone placed a huge win bet on this runner up, given his place and show payouts as well as some of the exotics, and that person is likely regretting not having the wager be across the board.  As for Mystery Boy himself, this talented Heavens Own runner was near the back in the early stages.  Jockey G Boulanger made a wise decision to try and follow the move of Dogs Got Wings, and kept within a length of him all the way to the wire.  So while the winner was advancing from last to first, Mystery Boy’s outside path and consistent stride get him this runner up finish.

3rd- 2- Urban Decline (18/1)- The longest shot on the board got off to a fairly average start for Alydar Stables, running fourth as they moved into the turn.  In the turn, it seemed as though Urban Decline wanted to make a more emphatic advance but he would get caught up behind the wall and could not showcase his best stride. It was not until very late in the stretch run did M G Pino have an unobstructed lane in which to move Urban Decline through.  Once he had it, the young colt did well to advance his position.  It will be interesting to see how he follows up on this performance in his next race.  He’ll be one to watch.

4th- 4- On High Alert (3/1)- The Mb Stables entry got off to a strong start as well, and would assume a rail position for the backstretch run, and be about a length and a half behind the leader early.  Jockey D E Centeno looked as though he picked a great time to try and make the pass, and he would draw level with Time To Ride at the top of the stretch and took the lead with a furlong to go.  However, there was a greater push coming from those would had been behind him, and he was not able to keep up, particularly in the final half furlong.

5th- 7- Color Me Purple (5/1)- Sharp out of the gate for his trainer, D J C Racing Stables, and would ultimately assume a second place position running a length to the outside of the pacesetting Time To Ride.  He responded to the move of On High Alert and also advanced on Time To Ride on exit of the turn.  In the stretch, he ran well and put in a fine effort, although I really would have liked to see a lot more out of him here, especially in the end.

6th- 5- Time To Ride (3/1)- Our pre-race selection was ready to go right from the start, and would assume the lead as the backstretch run would commence.  He would set the opening fraction in a reasonable :22.78 and lead the field into the turn.  That lead would hold as they moved their way around it, as the half went in :45.65.  As things moved into the stretch, they were coming at him from all different angles.  He hung in there for a little while, and even though the opening fractions didn’t seem overly blistering, they proved to be too much for him.  The trainer, Riggins Racing, could have picked up win #5000 here, but did get it later in a day with a result at LA.

7th- 1- Shogun (10/1)- Started near the back of the pack for Witeout Stables, riding along the rail about four lengths from the leaders as they moved into the turn.  At the top of the stretch, those who he had been running with all looked to make their push to the front, and Shogun just did not have the same kind of power in his stride.  If he did, he would have had an ideal lane for the run to the wire.

Track: Fast
Time: :22³  :45³  :57²  1:09

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 6 – 3 Paid 101.10
$1 Trifecta: 6 – 3 – 2 Paid 847.60

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded