8   SA            BC Fillies & Mares Sprint (GI)

 $1,000.000     3yo&Up F&M      7f    Dirt      3yo 122lbs, Older 124lbs

What do you know… I got one right and nailed the tri! Sitting just behind the pace, Smokey Stover’s Eros found that extra gear that she has and flew home to take the BC F&M Spring (GI) by a length in a final time of 1:21.68 for the seven panels.  Post time favorite First Impression gave a great effort but had to settle for the second spot, with Gobekli Tepe in third after setting the early fractions.  Shake It Off was fourth.

The gate was full and as the ladies got away with speed from the outside posts.  British Chai away quickly Sports Creek next to that one, You Just Have 2 Wait and Goekii Tepe.  Towards the middle of the track First Impression, Starlite Run and Sharp Suit gave chase, Indian River Queen was next, then Tommy Frazier and Thalassa along the inside and Eros.  Shake It Off was away a bit slow and Crush Space was the early trailer.

Making their way down the backside and now a half mile to run, the opening quarter in a moderate :22³, Gobekli Tepe was in front and cleared the field to drop over to the rail.  Sports Creek and British Chair still giving chase from the outside, another length and a half to the five-some of You Just Have 2 Wait from the outside, Sharp Suit, Starlite Run, Are We Dreamin and First Impression.  Another length and a half to a lineup that included Eros, Shake It Off, Tommy Frazier from the rail, Indian River Queen, Crush Space parked five wide and Thalassa now trailed.

The field moved to the far turn and were nearing the top of the lane and just two furlongs to run, they made the half mile in :45¹, and Gobekli Tepe still showed the way by a length and a half over Sports Creek.  British Chai was still caught five wide, a half length off of that one, then You Just Have 2 Wait, First Impression next to that one, Sharp Suite and Are We Dreamin along the inside.  Another length back to Starlite Run, Eros being asked to pick things up, another length to Shake It Off, Indian River Queen three wide, Tommy Frazier back on the rail, then another length to Crush Space and Thalassa.

Now moving inside the final furlong, it was bunching up quickly as they could tell the money was on the line.  Gobekli Tepe was now grasping to hold the three-quarter’s of a length lead, First Impression was pressing forward and Eros found running room and was flying.  You Just Have 2 Wait was wide but still in the mix, Sharp Suit, Are We Dreamin, British Chai very wide and beginning to weaken, Thalassa and Shake It Off finding room and trying to close a late gap… and the run to the wire was on.

Inside the final one hundred yards and to the finish, Gobekli Tepe just couldn’t hold off the challenge of Eros and the latter just went right on my.  Eros to the wire, and the win, taking this one by a length. A wall of horses went by, fighting for the minor money and the photo proved First Impression taking the second sport, just in front of Gobekli Tepe.  Shake It Off was a nose head back in third, nosing out Shake It Off in fourth.  Thalassa’s late moves could only produce a fifth place finish, the a neck back to Are We Dreamin in sixth, You Just Have 2 Wait flattening out late in seventh, Tommy Frazier, Sharp Suit in ninth, Sports Creek, Indian River Queen in twelfth, British Chai in thirteenth and Starlite Run closed this one out.    

Eros is a 4yo bay filly by Lest Nightfall – Fooled Ya, by Arian, and she was bred in Cal by Barcelona Farms.  Now trained by Smokey Stover, the speedster shows nine victories from her eighteen starts and earnings of $1,117.080.  Congratulations to the connections and to Eros!

$2 Mutuel Prices:
 

Track: Fast       Time: :22²  :45¹  1:09¹  1:21³
$1 Exacta: 5 – 7 Paid 47.30      $1 Trifecta: 5 – 7 – 12 Paid 318.70
Scratched: Grayte Crack, Mucho Gracias, Steel Calling, Two Grins

Eros was reserved early, responded when asked, found room into the lane, kicked clear and won driving.  First Impression sat behind the pace, moved into contention through the turn, drifted slightly mid lane, held on for the place.  Gobekli Tepe broke alertly, crossed over for inside position, caught mid lane in a game effort.  Shake It Off broke slowly, trailed to the top of the lane, responded when asked closing well late.  Thalassa lacked speed while last to the top of the lane, best foot too late.  Are We Dreamin reserved early, moved up into the turn, no excuse.  You Just Have 2 Wait tracked the pace while racing wide, out finished.  Tommy Fazier saved ground, best foot too late.  Sharp Suit evenly, no theat.  Crush Space never a threat.  Sports Creek showed speed to the lane, tried.  Indian River Queen was outrun.  British Chai wide trip, tired.  Starlite Run some early speed, steady retreat.

Categories: Grade I