The Fox (Grade 3)- $150.000 Purse
GP- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
One Mile on the Inner Turf
March 4, 2023

Nine fillies took part in the running of The Fox on Saturday, and that would include several that also ran here at GP last month for the Pegasus F & M Turf. It would be the horse that finished second in that race that would get the job done today as Fangs Of The Storm utilized a smart stalking trip to win and justify our selection of her in the preview. She is trained by Arindel, and it is the first time that the trainer has won The Fox. That is also true for the jockey, L Dettori. Congratulations to them! the time of the win was 1:33.10, which is one of the quicker winning times of the race over its history. Let’s take a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :23.24)- Rebel Girl pushes forward from the outside for Two Hearts One Love and clears the field by a length just prior to entering the first turn. Post time favorite Always Condottieri runs second, and leads the eventual winner of the race, Arindel’s Fangs Of The Storm, who is on the rail, by a neck. Common Misconception is fourth for Nakamura Stables, and in the lane right behind Rebel Girl. Next, with outside trips, are Venture In Belief (Night Rider Stables), Summers Day (Maxmillion Farm), and Stacysmomgotitgoinon (Big Jd Racing). They are all within three lengths of the leader. Behind them, there is about a two-length gap to the trailers, Space Force Five (TwinTowersRacing) and Versailles (D J C Racing Stables).

(1/2 Mile- :46.60)- Around the turn, and midway into the backstretch, Rebel Girl continues to hold the lead, but at around the half mile, Always Condottieri opts to join her and is now within half a length. Fangs Of The Storm does not follow that move, however, and is content to hold her line in third, even with plenty of room available to her along the rail to push forward. Common Misconception and Venture In Belief are next, and Stacysmomgotitgoinon continues to run wide. Summers Day, early in the backstretch, moved to the inside, but lost a little more ground. Versailles and Space Force Five are about seven lengths off the pace.

(Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Towards the end of the backstretch, Always Condottieri moves up right to the inside of Rebel Girl and they match strides at the front. There would still be enough of a gap to the inside of them for Fangs Of The Storm to pounce on, and she would do that at the top of the turn. Then, as they moved around the turn, she would gain on the leaders with every stride until she was even with them at the top of the stretch. She would pop a head in front for the stretch and seemed to be in great position at this point. Behind these top three, there was about two lengths to Common Misconception, Stacysmomgotitgoinon, and Venture Belief but none of them were looking like a threat to the leaders. Versailles was getting closer but had a lot of work to do still. Summers Day had backed out, and Space Force Five was lacking response.

(Finish- 1:33.10)- Fangs Of The Storm did take the lead at the top of the stretch, but she never pulled away from Rebel Girl. Give credit to that one for hanging in there and nearly coming right back at her to reclaim the victory. They’d have a good stretch battle that would result in a photo finish, but at the wire it would be Fangs Of The Storm, narrowly over Rebel Girl for the win. Always Condottieri takes third but could not hang with the top two. Versailles practically ran into Stacysmomgotitgoinon in the stretch, especially if the overhead view is used, but that did not keep her from finishing fourth, over Venture In Belief, Common Misconception, Stacysmomgotitgoinon, Space Force Five, and Summers Day.

About The Winner- Fangs Of The Storm, trained by Arindel and ridden to victory by L Dettori, is a five-year-old mare by Commanding The Storm and is out of Coatlicue. She was bred in Florida by Arindel as a second quarter two-year-old, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her ninth in 31 starts, her fifth stake win, and third graded win. Her career earnings are now $1,845.690.

Track: Firm
Time: :23¹  :46³  1:09⁴  1:33

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 2 – 8 Paid 114.70
$1 Trifecta: 2 – 8 – 3 Paid 1,349.80

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES