8/27/22

  7  SAR    The Personal Ensign (GI)

    $600.000   4yo&Up F&M       1 1/8m Dirt         123lbs

Mb Stables put on a show this weekend, and it’s only half over… Drink Me Pretty sat just behind the pace, moved up to take over as it fell apart on the far turn, and stayed strong to the wire to score another big win in The Personal Ensign (GI).  She covered the mile and an eighth in 1.47.85, with the official margin set at a length, although it looked more than that to me.  Z Command ran a big race to take the second spot, two lengths better than long-shot Processing Greek.  It was another half-length back to Aligned in fourth.  Seven lengths covered the field        

The field of eleven loaded into the gate in front of the large crowd, here on Travers Day, and away from the gate with Miss Steel showing the way, Drink Me Pretty from the rail, Hot Summer between horses and Naples from the outside, all giving chase.  A gap back to Aligned and Processing Greek on the outside of Laffy Crack from the rail.  Then another gap back to the trailing foursome of Z Command, Fashionable, Shes A Super Freak and Wbf No Regrets.

Around the clubhouse turn and onto the backside, six furlongs left to run, and Miss Steel Mazula continuing to show the way with a comfortable lead.  Drink Me Pretty not letting her skip away, Hot Summer on her flank, then a gap to Naples on the outside of Aligned.  Another length to Z Command racing three wide.  Another length to Fashionable, Processing Greek from the far outside, down to the rail for Laffy Crack, Wbf No Regrets three wide and then a length and a half to the trailer, Shes A Super Freak.

The made their way down the back stretch and not into the far turn with three and a half furlongs to go, Miss Steel Mazula still on the lead but it was shrinking fast… Hot Summer moving up quickly, Drink Me Pretty right there, then a gap to Naples on the outside of Aligned, Z Command out wider in that group, then a length and a half to the foursome of Fashionable, Laffy Crack on her inside, Wbf No Regrets out wider and Processing Greek widest of all as Shes A Super Freak continued to be the back marker. 

Moving around the far turn and into the lane, they flew past the three sixteenths pole and the complexion of this one had changed in a big way as Miss Steel Mazula put on the air-brakes and backed out of it… Hot Summer to a short lead, but that was gone as well… Drink Me Pretty moved past them if swift fashion and was now in front by a length.  Hot Summer trying to find more, a gap back to Miss Steel Mazula headed in the wrong direction, Z Command down the outside and finding her best stride, Napes and Aligned with clear shots, Laffy Crack with plenty of room along the rail, Processing Greek feeling the sting of the whip from the outside, Wbf No Regrets and Shes A Super Freak.

Deep stretch and to the wire, this one was in the bank and the bettors were headed to the windows…  Drink Me Pretty in front and cruised home to take the win by a length (plus).  Z Command closed a late gap to grab second, as did Processing Greek to be third.  Aligned grabbed the minor share in a photo that included Laffy Crack in fifth, Hot Summer in sixth and Naples seventh.  Fashionable was eighth, Wbf No Regrets ninth, Miss Steel Mazula tenth and Shes A Super Freak closed this one out. 

Drink Me Pretty is a 4yo black mare by Captain Rush – Musical Crown, by Crown Utica, and she was bred in NM by Zoeller.  Acquired by Mb Stables via private purchase for $500.000 back in April of last season, she now shows eight lifetime wins from twenty-eight starts, two of those wins coming this season, and she now has $2,779.760 in earnings.   Congrats to the Connections!

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast      Time: :47²  1:11¹  1:35¹  1:47⁴
$1 Exacta: 1 – 3 Paid 113.80          $1 Trifecta: 1 – 3 – 9 Paid 1,597.10
Scratched: None

Drink Me Pretty sat just behind the pace along the inside, moved up quickly as the leaders faltered, took over into the lane, kicked clear while kept to task.  Z Command raced mid-pack 2p, moved to 3p into the far turn then fanned widest for the drive, clearly second best while no threat to the winner.  Processing Greek well back throughout, looked hopelessly beaten into the lane, responded with a late wide charge to gain the third spot.  Aligned mid-pack, 2p into the first turn, secured the rail down the backside, still racing mid-pack, split horses with a clear path, evenly late.  Laffy Crack raced mid-pack 2p to the far turn, moved down to the rail for the drive, evenly, no excuse.  Hot Summer forced the pace to mid-way on the far turn, took a short lead, drifting wider into the stretch, tired.  Naples forwardly placed 2p into the lane, tired.  Fashionable was not a factor.  Wbg No Regrets was outrun.  Miss Steel Mazula sent from the gate, set the pace to mid-way on the far turn, nothing left.  Shes A Super Freak gave a dull effort. 

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES