The 1 3/8 mile turf route was just what Nakamura Stables’ Danke Schon was looking for as he streaked wire to wire for a game win in the $250.000 grade 2 Bowling Green Handicap at SAR. In the preview, we suspected his connections were looking for an improved performance at the longer distance of this race, and they were right as he jumped into the lead almost immediately and showed the way the whole race, holding on gamely for a length margin at the wire as a 6-1 outsider.

D J C Racing Stables’ Devilish Luck stalked the pace to the stretch as the 5-2 second favourite then closed courageously but came up a length short in the end. Still, back to back seconds in graded stakes is nothing to sneeze at.

Mb Stables’ Grounded In Reality went into the starting gate as a 15-1 longshot, in spite of our handicap which had him as the 4-1 third choice and second selection. He ran a solid race, never farther back than third and continued on gamely to miss by only two lengths.

Mb Stables’ stablemate Crafty Shenanigans left the gate a nearly 8-1 shot and last, continued to improve throughout and was closing in through the stretch to present decently, almost got third.

Wolfs Den’s Not My Idea was outrun as the favourite to the turn home and closed a bit, but too late.

D J C Racing Stables’ Penitentiary forced the early pace and weakened down the stretch.

Hawaiian Shirt Guy’s Exactly As Planned shopwed little throughout and was fading back through the stretch.

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