March 22, 2015

Each of the filles and mares racing in the Grade II Distaff Handicap at AQU on Saturday had a big shot at taking the top prize but the actual winner was a bit of a surprise and when Eye Of The Beholder sprinted clear late to win by a half-length, it was beauty in motion for owner Sanny Village. A four-year-old daughter of Class Cruise who had shown little in Graded Stakes company before, she was able to catch a reachable field on this day and ended up with a mammoth win and a 99-speed rating, clearly her career best, while pushing her earning past $250.000 with a nearly double in bankroll from a single six-furlong score.

Like a shot, Swimwear (*1.10) rocketed to command in the first jumps of the Distaff and was a length in front through the final half-furlong and Eye Of The Beholder (5.00) could only chase in second behind her blazing early speed. Birthday Shot (3.25) and Danzig Ghost (2.20) sat near the back of the pack through a first split of 22.84 but it was all Swimwear into the far turn and she continued to look strong on the front end. Two-lengths to the good around the far turn, through a powerful half-mile in 45.64, the wheels started to fall off and the closers started to inch up with each stride and while Birthday Shot looked the real deal on the outside, the inside track of Eye Of The Beholder got her to the front right in the nick of time. Danzig Ghost came with a flying finish four-wide as Swimwear retreated to last but at the wire, Eye Of The Beholder was a half-length clear with Birthday Shot holding onto second by one of the slimmest margins possible in what was truly a blanket finish for second money.

Off an okay season at three where she never really faced the best of her division, Eye Of The Beholder was made the longest shot in the Distaff despite a last out win but when the pace collapsed, she was there to pick up the pieces and become a Grade II winner. There are plenty of good stakes races for the female sprinters in the coming weeks and a race like the Vagrancy is another good continuation on what could become a very solid season for this improving four-year-old.

Congratulations goes out to owner Sanny Village and their four-year-old filly Eye Of The Beholder, a beautiful winner of the Grade II Distaff Handicap at AQU!

Prediction                       Swimwear / Danzig Ghost / Birthday Shot

Winner                            Eye Of The Beholder

                                           Four-year-old gray filly

                                           Class Cruise-Miss Copperhead (Copperhead Ravine)

Owner                              Sanny Village

Time                                 22.84, 45.64, 57.40, 1:09.46

Overall

Eye Of The Beholder     5.00 stalked outside, angled inside, drove home

Birthday Shot                  3.25 sat back, pounced, held second

Danzig Ghost                 2.20 driving finish, missed more money

Swimwear                       *1.10 set torrid fractions, faded only late

Triple T Racing

Categories: Grade II