The Go For Wand Handicap (Grade 3)- $250.000 Purse
AQU- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile on the Inner Dirt
December 3, 2016

The field for the Go For Wand was not the largest, as only four horses would head to the starting gate.  That’s a detail that doesn’t matter for trainer Spark Racing, who coming into the race had never won a Graded stake.  This is a stable that first opened its doors in 2012 and tends to average approximately 100 starts per year.  El Gran Tigercat was a homebred and the filly has continued to get better over the course of the year.  Once she broke her maiden, she’s been given tougher assignments, and prior to this would win the OKC Distaff.  Aboard the winner was I Ortiz Jr, who rode his first Go For Wand winner.  Congratulations! The time of the win was 1:35.21, one of the slower editions of the race when run at this distance, but it was all that was needed against this opposition.  Let’s look at the result some more!

1st- 2- El Gran Tigercat (7/5)- Today’s eventual race winner, from Spark Racing, started fine from the gate but was not as ambitious as Eviction and Laff Night Out to be up on the front.   Instead, she ran alongside Mint Condition around the opening turn, and as the race moved into the backstretch, I Ortiz Jr would have his filly in the third position about two lengths off of the lead.   Not much changed with her for the entire distance of the backstretch, even as Eviction began to take over the race lead moving into the turn.  El Gran Tigercat still trailed by a length and a half at this point.  Midway into the turn, she began to make her push forward but had to do so while running four wide, and may have pushed down another lane further on exit of the turn by Laff Night Out.   At the top of the stretch, she was making progress, as was Mint Condition, but Eviction was hanging tough and look like she may hold them off.  That is where, in the final half furlong, EL Gran Tigercat seemed to find another gear and went all out to the wire to both get by Eviction and hang on over Mint Condition, to get the win!  The time again, was 1:35.21. El Gran Tigercat is a three year old filly by El Gran Broomstick and out of Steel Tigercat (Steel Ball).  She was bred in California by Spark Racing as third quarter two year old, and they have been together throughout!  Congratulations to the connections!

2nd- 3- Eviction (3/5)- The post time favorite from Nakamura Stables got off to a good start and was eager to challenge Laff Night Out for the early lead.  Her rival would be just a little bit better, and this would lead to Evicton settling for second a length back into the backstretch.  Maintained a steady cruising pace behind the leader, and slowly but surely began to get closer to taking the lead.  Just as they moved into the turn, it would be Eviction in front.  Led by a length over the long exit of the turn, and looked to be in good shape as they moved into the stretch.  Held serve well in the stretch, but in the final half furlong started to look vulnerable.  El Gran Tigercat kicked it into an additional gear that she did not have, but the effort allowed her to hang on to second.

3rd- 1- Mint Condition (8/1)- Our entry from John Henry was not quite as eager as the top two right out of the gate, but would never let anyone get too far ahead of early.  She would be fourth of four moving to the backstretch, but was only about two lengths back with good position on the track.  Content to remain at back at this juncture, even while Eviction took over the lead as they entered the final turn.  Towards the exit of the turn, Mint Condition finally began to look to push for the lead, and was even with El Gran Tigercat at the top of the stretch.  Ran hard in the stretch, but would be beaten by her rival, though perhaps more disappointingly, she could never snare second from Eviction.

4th- 4- Laff Night Out (11/1)- The longshot from Buddhabase started well out of the gate and battled with Eviction for the lead heading into the opening turn.  She would emerge with the lead while within in the turn, setting the quarter mile fraction in :23.74.  Held the advantage for the duration of the backstretch, running a half in :47.21, but Eviction had been slowly reeling her in.  At the top of the final turn, she would surrender the lead to the rival.  Unfortunately for the trainer, this would signal her descent through the field.

Track: Fast
Time: :23³  :47¹  1:10³  1:35¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 2 – 3 Paid 1.70

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES