The 17th Running of the G2 King Edward BC Stakes
Sunday, August 21, 2022
WO Race #4 $200.000
3+ 119/123 Lbs (plus penalties) 1-Mile (T)
Track Record-1:31.72 (Cleveland Browns-2012)
Stakes Record-1:32.00 (Trading Punches-2010)
After tagging Great Bonkers for $18.000 last month, Aer Stables gave his new runner back-to-back-to-back 1-mile works on the lawn. When the latest of those three strong moves came back 1:33 and 4/5 you had to figure he was a horse who meant business. Riding the rail for the vast majority of Sunday’s G2 King Edward BC Stakes at WO, Great Bonkers proved he was much more than just a “morning glory” as he took home the half-length victory in his debut for the new barn. The victory, his first in a stake of any kind, improves Great Bonkers to 20-8-6-2 with $354.330 in earnings.
Away on the inside of the first flight behind dueling leaders, Great Bonkers bided his time in 3rd as Commanding Officer led The Mad King through fractions of :23.40 and :47.04 for the opening quarter and half mile, respectively. He moved off of the rail as he entered the turn, but only for about half of the long bend, before he went back down to the inner portion of the yielding WO turf course.
By the time Commanding Officer posted three-quarters in 1:10.94, Great Bonkers was only a length away and moving nicely up the rail. The winner made the pass around the three-sixteenths pole and proceded to inch away from his rival as he continued down the WO stretch. Great Bonkers hit the wire in 1:35.64, and slighlty more than a half-length in front of Commanding Officer. It was almost two lengths back to Hollywood Capo in 3rd and another length-and-a-half to Fearisque in 4th. Completing the order of finish were Sly Prayers, Gran Man, Wingman, and The Mad King.
Congratulations to Great Bonkers and Aer Stables on their victory in the G2 King Edward BC Stakes!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
