5/23/2020

2 MTH    The MTH (GIII)

   $150.000    3yo&Up    1 1/8m  Turf            3yo 117lbs  Older 124 lbs  +penalties

Smokey Stover keeps the wins coming as his steed Fuji swept up quickly on the turn, took control into the lane and cruised home by three commanding lengths to take Saturday’s The MTH (GIII) in a final time of 1:47.83 for the mile and an eighth trip, with the turf course being labeled yielding.  Post time favorite Five Civil Nations dead-heated with second choice Insist Always for the place.

The field of nine loaded into the gate, located in the infield chute, and were away with the ring of the bell and the noise of the springs opening the gates.  Warrior Patriot was flashing early speed, then to his inside, Green Rush, Five Civil Nations along the rail and Fuji between that pair.  Sundays Sauce from the outside, Maloine next to that one, then Lab Cat, Im Special and Insist Always was away slowest of the group.

Now moving around the clubhouse house turn, they had five and a half furlongs to run and Green Rush opened up a sizable lead of the pack.  Moline about three and a half lengths behind the leader, another length and a half to the trio of Warrior Patriot between horses, Sundays Sauce three wide and Five Civil Nations on the inside.  Another length back to Fuji, Im Special just in behind that one, Lab Cat on the outside of that one and Insist Always continued to trail.

The field made their way down the backside and had three furlongs left to travel, Green Rush continuing to show the way by four and a half lengths.  Sundays Sauce moved up three wide, Moline on his inside, Five Civil Nations and Warrior Patriot between that pair, then another length to Fuji, Im Special in behind that one, Lab Cat and Insist Always could still see them all.

Around the far turn and to the top of the lane, the complexion of this one changed pretty quickly as Green Rush’s lead was dwindling in quick order… now just a length and a half as Fuji swung five wide for the drive and was closing in fast.  Five Civil Nations up the rail, Sundays Sauce three wide, a gap back to Moline along the rail, Insist Always four wide and now gaining interest, Warrior Patriot next to that one, Lab Cat in the two path and Im Special was now the back marker.

Inside the furlong marker…this race was all but over as Fuji went past the tiring Green Rush and was opening up on this field… cruising under the wire by three lengths as much the best.  Five Civil Nations and the hard charging Insist Always hit the wire together and in fact were in a dead heat for second with the tiring Green Rush fourth.  Sundays Sauce was fifth, Lab Cat sixth, Moline seventh, Im Special eighth and Warrior Patriot was ninth.

Fuji is a 3yo bay colt by What Have You Done – Agent Bleu, by Proud Chai, and he was bred in LA by his owner, Smokey Stover.  This was his fourth win from seven starts, his first graded stakes win and he now has earnings of $272.100.

$2 Mutuel Prices: 

Track: Yielding     Time: :48²  1:12¹  1:36²  1:47⁴
$1 Exacta: 2 – 1 Paid 12.90, 2 – 9 Paid 20.20
$1 Trifecta: 2 – 1 – 9 Paid 24.20, 2 – 9 – 1 Paid 36.60
Scratched: None

Fuji rated back soon after the start, unhurried to midway on the far turn, responded when asked, up to take a clear lead inside the furlong marker, untested from there.  Five Civil Nations inside trip, in contention to the furlong marker, could not go with the winner, even for the place with rival.  Insist Always trailed to the top of the lane, good late foot while even for the place with rival.  Green Rush broke in hand, rushed up on the clubhouse turn to take a clear lead, headed into the lane, used up.  Sundays Sauce forwardly placed, evenly late.  Lab Cat was never involved.  Moline showed good early pace, tired.  Im Special was outrun.  Warrior Patriot flashed some early foot, folded.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES