The Ballerina – Grade I [BC]
7 Furlongs Dirt Stake Purse $500.00 Filly & Mare 3 Year Olds And Up.

1st Chainsaw Monkii, trained by Downwind Stables

Not the fastest worker by a fair way, zero stakes wins but three ungraded stakes seconds, just two wins from nine efforts and drawn badly….. Winner of a grade one against some of the best female sprinters around? Well if you could see this coming you have much better vision than me. Thrown up onto the speed and into a close stalk by the outside speed push she stole a clear lead into the stretch and hung on pretty well to record an unlikely one length win. I am not sure whether the trainer expected this win but they should be congratulated on taking the chance and paying just $85 for this filly last month, it was some special foresight indeed.

2^nd Donegal Maid, trained by Barcelona Stables

Well with a shock winner you could only have an eight year old finishing second after running a race so far out of character I was sure I was seeing a doppelganger. Trailing the field she was flying home and only really got beaten by the awful traffic jam that formed behind the winner. Normally an on speed runner it was either brilliant judgement that saw her run the trail or just blind chance, either way this great old warrior ran a great race and should be taking her place in the BC with every chance of a famous win.

3^rd Noble One, trained by Mb Stables

Her trainer managed to negate the outside speed push that ruined her chances last time out but it still wasn’t enough to beat a filly that looked far inferior. Having said that she ran a great race and will make her presence felt for the remainder of the season.

4^th Sonoma, trained by Alabarda Stables

A great consistent filly who thoroughly deserved a little bit of the purse after another gutsy effort. Maybe helped by the traffic jam formed on the home bend she ran her heart out as always.

5^th Golden Broomstick

Flew late to be beaten just two lengths and was part of the traffic jam that made this race a bit of a farce. She must be given another chance and I am pretty sure this result would be different nine times out of ten so I shouldn’t write her off just yet.

6^th Christine

Close enough but just not good enough in the end.

7^th Laffin In Texas

Part of the traffic jam as all the closers were spending more time moving around than winning the race it’s impossible to tell whether she would’ve done better with a different run.

8^th Danzig Ghost

Never really got into it in a race that she looked a bit out of sorts in. She will be back.

9^th Dashboard Rahy

Got blocked from gate to post, we will have to wait to see if she is as good as her starting price suggested but as she was only four lengths off the winner it wouldn’t take much to change this result.

10^th Wildly Fine

Weakened from on the speed.

11^th Last Gesture

Probably ran about as well as expected.

12^th Millyon Mama

Easy winner of the Great Lady M Stakes with the runner up behind and well beaten last time out. A long way last today.

I think this filly just about sums up graded stakes at HRP these days.

SUMMARY

I am not sure what to say about this race. Congratulations to the winner who was given the perfect ride and had a great trip. In behind we saw a crazy stretch run with eleven horses fanning across the track and going sideways as quick as forwards. Millyon Mama took out a few as she faded like a stuffed turkey, including the red hot favourite, I think her trainer will be calling the vet after this race.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES