Shadwell Turf Mile (Grade 1)- $1,000.000 Purse
KEE- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile on the Turf
October 8, 2016

Eastern Townships had not been getting the results lately.  Since being acquired by Sanny Village in private sales, the three year old gelding had been finishing near the rear of the field in three straight races.  Excuses were possible, and of course one of those races was the Sword Dancer where it almost seemed like a 12-way dead heat, but excuses don’t earn BC Points.  This Saturday was now or never for Eastern Townships, a horse with a lot of talent but seemingly on the outside looking in on the BC Mile Point Standings.  Maybe, he didn’t have to necessarily win the race, but he would accomplish just that, reminding all of us who may have begun to wonder, that he still has it.   Trainer Sanny Village wins the race for the second time in three years, and jockey J Rosario also becomes a two-time winner.  Congratulations! The time of the race was 1:32.41, making it the third quickest edition in the race’s history.  Let’s take a deeper look!

1st- 5- Eastern Townships (14/1)- Our eventual winner from Sanny Village got off to a conservative start from the gate, and did not apply any pressure to the race leaders early.  Instead, J Rosario was happy to keep him towards the back of the field, as the would be ninth when things began to settle in at the top of the backstretch.  He was the outermost of four wide at this point of the race, but it was a lane that would prove beneficial to him later.  Cleared the three that he had been running with before reaching the turn with sights set on the likes of Hold The Mach and Lunar Blaze.  Heading into the turn, Eastern Townships was four lengths off the lead.  This is where this horse was simply, amazing.  He was explosive in the turn, catching some pretty good horses in the process that were running well themselves.  As he moved to the top of the stretch, Eastern Townships had moved into second, but it was just going to take a few more strides before he took over the lead.  It wasn’t that leader who was the possible threat, though, it was Lunar Blaze, who was impressive in his own right during the turn, and Compress was battling hard as well.  Eastern Townships was still able to move a length ahead of them with a furlong to go, and it was clear sailing all the way to the wire.   He was continuing to pull away from everyone all the way to the wire.  This was impressive, be on the lookout for him in the BC Mile!  Eastern Townships is a three year old gelding by Eastern Charge (Charley Farley) and out of Baie Comeau.  He was bred in Florida by Chili King Stables as a second quarter two year old and was acquired by Sanny Village in July of this year, via private sales, for $305.000.  Congratulations to the connections!

2nd- 7- Lunar Blaze (6/1)- Made his debut in this race for Australia Wide after that one paid a huge sum of money in order to acquire him.  He would be good out of the gate, though would not apply pressure to the early pacesetters.  Heading into the backstretch, he was running evne with Hold The Mach, in fourth place, and two and a half lengths from the leaders.  Held this spot for the backstretch, and looked to make his move as they entered the final turn.  In the turn, he was simply incredible, going from almost three lengths back, to running stride for stride with the race leader.  Unfortunately for him, Eastern Townships was even more amazing at this stage, as he did about the same thing while running about four or five wide.   Lunar Blaze was strong in the stretch, but today was simply just going to be Eastern Townships’ day.

3rd- 11- Compress (8/1)– The WO Mile winner from Cherrytree Hill Farm started well out of the gate, and was interesting in contesting the early pace.  Unfortunately, this led to him being about five to six wide around the opening turn.  As the race moved into the backstretch, he was able to move into a better lane and be just about a length from the pacesetting Keep Silent.   Stalked the leader in the backstretch, but as they moved into the final turn, there were a few beginning to bear down on him quite aggressively, including Eastern Townships and Lunar Blaze, and perhaps right here you would have liked to have seen a little more response from Compress.   Those two got by pretty easily, but Compress would dig in admirably at the top of the stretch and hold off Hold The Mach and Jovan River to get the third spot.

4th- 8- Jovan River (10/1)- The Mb Stables colt had no intention of running with the leaders early and went to the rear of the field.  This is not his usual running style, so that was a bit unexpected.  Remained near the back of the field during the backstretch and moving into the turn.  The field would tighten up as the race moved to the exit of the turn, and Jovan River did well to avoid traffic and move to the outside, following Compress and Eastern Townships into the stretch.  Once in the stretch, only Eastern Townships was quicker, and this late close picks up a fourth place check for the trainer just barely over Hold The Mach.

5th- 9- Hold The Mach (11/1)- The Night Rider Stables entry had some interest in running with the leaders out of the gate, and would eventually tuck himself in behind the first few, just a couple lengths from the lead in the opening turn.  Ran steady in the backstretch, looked to position himself between Mean Street and Compress at the top of the final turn.  Made significant progress in the turn, and was within a length of the lead moving into the stretch. Could only maintain his position at this point, and misses out ever so slightly for fourth.

6th- 1- Iron Mann (9/1)- Last year’s winner from Aer Stables got off to an average start along the rail, and assumed a midpack position into the backstretch.  Maintained his position during the backstretch portion without much advance, and a nice lane momentarily opened up for him heading into the turn if he wanted to take it, but Mean Street would close it off.  Iron Mann then moved to his outside and seemed full of run.  Could not advance further in the stretch.

7th- 3- Aggravation (9/1)- Got off to an average start for his trainer, Mb Stables, but appeared to be restrained in the opening turn, and would end up near the back of the field.  Ran tenth in the backstretch, six lengths off the lead.  Caught up behind Bolkonski as they moved into the final turn, but traffic did clear out for him at the top of the stretch.  Could not keep up with the leaders at this time.

8th- 4- Swamp Fox (10/1)- The Blushing Meadows entry seemed to be conservative with his start from the gate, and did not challenge the early leaders, opting for a spot about five lengths off the leaders as they moved into the backstretch.  May have wanted to make a more notable move at the top of the turn, but did not have the running lane.  He did have it at the top of the stretch though, but could not take advantage of it.

9th- 14- Valiant Charge (12/1)- From his outside post, the entry from Threshold was fine out of the gate initially, but it did not take him long to also hold himself back and end up running at the rear of the field.  He could see them all in front of him down the backstretch, and as the ones closest to him began to move forward, he would attempt to as well.  He would go to the outermost lane, and pass a few.

10th- 13- Irish Flu (64/1)- The 2014 winner of the Shadwell went to the back immediately for Sanny Village, becoming far more interested in getting an inside position near the back then any attempt to run with the leaders.  Remained back there in the backstretch cand began his advance pretty much at the same time everyone else did at the back.  Picked off a couple spots from those tiring, but that is all.

11th- 10- Mean Street (5/1)- The surprising post-time favorite started well out of the gate for Nakamura Stables, but would allow his stablemate to set the early fractions.  He would tuck in behind him and stalk him while maintaining track position along the rail.  Maintained this position on the backstretch, but as they moved into the turn and others starting making their move, Mean Street had nothing.

12th- 12- Keep Silent (21/1)- There was nothing silent about his start as the Nakamura Stables entry bursted right to the front of the field from his outside post.  He would lead the way around the opening turn, running a 1/4-mile in :22.94.  Continued to lead for the duration of the backstretch, running the half in :45.64, and leading almost by two lengths.  Could not hold off the advances of the challengers, but once he was passed, he seemed to pack it in entirely.

13th- 2- Tin Lizzie (17/1)- Went promptly to the rear of the field for trainer Stald Gullis, running seven lengths out at the top of the backstretch.  Began running very well along the rail as they moved into the turn, and seemed poised to pick off several positions.  Unfortunately for the trainer, he ran into some mean streets, and had to check up significantly for Mean Street with no room to avoid him.

14th- 6- Bolkonski (25/1)- Broke well out of the gate for Blushing Meadows, but seemed to call off pretty quickly any attempt to run with the leaders in the early moments.  Ran midpack in the backstretch and started to look good momentarily as they moved into the turn.  Got caught behind a wall at the top of the stretch, and had no where to go.

Track: Firm
Time: :22⁴  :45³  1:08⁴  1:32²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 5 – 7 Paid 100.20
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 7 – 11 Paid 1,571.80

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES