Free Sunset and Quiver Pond Share Fillies and Mares Turf Win

By Nynl Stables on November 4, 2018

BC Fillies and Mares Turf (Grade 1)- $2,000.000 Purse
CD- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and Three Eighths on the Turf
November 3, 2018

Long-time trainer Team 7 Illusions will go down as one of the best trainers the virtual world has ever seen. A few months ago, he declared that he will be packing it in, and no longer plans to race. Everything will be sold in the December auction, the trainer has stated. He no longer plans to race, though perhaps may stick around selling covers of his incredible breeding stock, per a recent forum. In his last BC then, he was able to go out successful with two wins on Saturday, one of them right here in the BC Fillies and Mares Turf. Free Sunset has been a great horse and seemed to be one of the favorites for the win here. She would do that, but not all to herself. She will have to settle for sharing the win, as a trainer who hopefully has many years of racing to come, Estero Farms, saw Quiver Pond also run a great race. She too, seemed like one of the favorites here, and was our pick to come out on top. These two will have their names tied together forever. Each trainer wins the race for the first time. L H Colon takes yet another turf race on the BC with Quiver Pond, and Alan Garcia wins with Free Sunset. It is the first win for each of them as well. Congratulations to all! The race was won in a time of 2:12.21. Here’s a look at it!

(½ Mile- :48.18)- From the middle of the starting gate, Alligator breaks very sharply for Maxmillion Farm, and looks as though she will lead the early moments, but she soon gets slightly restrained, and gives the lead away to Snakie Groupie, her stablemate. Broken Chat (Estero Farms) and Big Fan (Mb Stables) are also fast starters from the middle of the gate. As we round the opening turn and head down the front stretch, we see two horses push their way to the front. They would run the stretch here about the same way they would when running to the wire at the end as well. Those horses would be the co-winners, Quiver Pond from Estero Farms, and Free Sunset from Team 7 Illusions. At the finish line the first time, they would now be second and third as Snakie Groupie continued to lead the way. Alligator, Broken Chat, and Big Fan had the next three positions. After them, we move to the middle of the field for Wednesday (Fractious) and Devil Wears Prada (Axeman). Good Line is next, running in the three wide position for Mb Stables. Maggie Greene (The Sidley Stud) and Musical Treat (Mb Stables) are next in line, running about six lengths from the front. Commanding Faith (Crocker Ggs), Trump Princess (Winning Link Stables) and Smokin Nebulae (Drabfantasy) are the trailers.

(Six Furlongs- 1:12.13)- Rounding the first turn, Snakie Groupie is joined at the front end as Free Sunset pulls up alongside her. They lead by about a length over the third place Quiver Pond, who is running in the third lane, and keeping pace. Both Alligator and Broken Chat are enjoying excellent stalking trips at the point of the race, running right behind the top two. Big Fan drops back a little more, and now has both Wednesday and Devil Wears Prada preparing to pass her along the inside. Last year’s winner, Good Line, is still unhurried and five lengths back. Those that had been at the back are content to remain there as we begin the backstretch portion of the race.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- At the top of the turn, Free Sunset completes the pass of Snakie Groupie and assumes the lead. Snakie Groupie seems to lose interest at this point, and begins to tire along the rail as others also go by. Quiver Pond takes the second spot, and is half a length behind the co-winner into the turn. We started to see the rear of the field fan out for the turn, and runs seemed to be coming from Good Line and Musical Treat, in particular. Free Sunset handles the turn well, and will continue to lead Quiver Pond by half a length as we get ready for the stretch run. Alligator had been stalking this whole time, and when Snake Groupie bowed out, she would have a nice clear lane in front of her to be able to split the top two. Broken Chat also was in a good position to capitalize on this, but had Devil Wears Prada in close pursuit. Big Fan was still there at this point. They were six wide behind her as both Good Line and Musical Treat continued forward, but were joined by Commanding Faith and Trump Princess. Wednesday was losing ground as she backed into this group. Maggie Greene looked to get involved, but Smokin Nebulae was still behind them all.

(Finish- 2:12.21)- An entertaining stretch battle ensues between both Free Sunset and Quiver Pond as each of them are in full stride. There was some separation between them as Free Sunset rode the rail, Quiver Pond drifted out to be about six wide. With about half a furlong to go it looked like Quiver Pond was ahead and about to outkick Free Sunset to the wire, but Free Sunset then dug in deeper herself and showed great desire to get back up and force the dead heat between the two of them. Alligator runs third, as she seemed like she might contend with the top two for a little bit, though when it came closer to the finish, she was fortunate to hang on to that spot over a five-horse wall led by Devil Wears Prada and Broken Chat. Also part of that wall, and close but no check were Good Line and Trump Princess. Musical Treat and Maggie Greene were also close. Commanding Faith never made up the ground she conceded early. Wednesday, Smokin Nebulae, Big Fan and the frontrunning Snakie Groupie finish out the field.

About The Winners: Free Sunset, trained by Team 7 Illusions and ridden by Alan Garcia, is a three year old filly by Cherokee Sunset, and is out of the late Bonnie Farley. She was bred in New York by Team 7 Illusions as a first quarter two year old, the only trainer for which she has ever known. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her fifth in 15 starts, and her third graded win. Her career earnings are now $1,505.920.

Quiver Pond, trained by Estero Farms, and ridden to victory by L H Colon, is a three year old filly by Kavorka, is out of Raquette Lake. She was bred in Ontario by Night Mare Racing as a yearling, and acquired by Estero Farms in private sales in May 2017, after one race, for $200.000. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her ninth in 15 starts, and her seventh graded win. Her career earnings are now $2,777.200.

Horse Name

Owner Name

Jockey

Odds

Fin

Time

SRF

Free Sunset

Team 7 Illusions

Garcia Alan

5.70

1¹