July 7, 2015

When the KYD and BEL winners line up in the same race for a $1000.000 purse, you know that it is going to take a monumental effort to win and on Sunday afternoon at WO, Greek Poet became a greek god with a huge upset over both King Cobra and Deja Steel, running down the outside speed to score by two-lengths going away. Claimed for $25.000 from his current owner, then claimed back for $50.000, he closed well enough in the Coolmore Lexington at KEE to warrant a look at longer races and put it all together when the speed collapsed to win here, proving that patient can pay off if you get the right trip.

Outside speed was abundant from the start of the Queens Plate with Kelly Rycroft (9.70) and Owain (48.60) getting the best starts while Bad Mouth (9.00) and Buzzing (8.05) did their best to hold positions along the inside. In front of the stands for the first time, Owain had a brief lead over Kelly Rycroft from the outside with a wall of horses just in behind, headed by Deja Steel (5.15), who was unable to get down to save any early ground. Bad Mouth came through his opening to contest for the lead around the first turn and that provided pressure to Owain on both sides and through a solid opening half-mile of 47.98, the field of 13 was more bunched than it probably should have been. Halfway through with the two leaders still neck and neck, both Bad Mouth and Buzzing needed to make an outside run and they muscled through while forcing Cool Guy Twist (9.95) and Deja Steel wider while leaving plenty of room for Greek Poet (13.05) to make an inside run. Six-furlongs came up in a rapid 1:11.77 and that spelled the end of Owain, who backed up and left Kelly Rycroft alone on the lead and while Buzzing was racing evenly and Deja Steel was stalled, the backfield was coming alive with Greek Poet leading the charge after a dream trip. Around the far turn and to the top of the lane, the leader looked in complete control with fractions on his side and with ground saved, Kelly Rycroft found himself a quarter-mile from victory with only one horse to hold off, that being Greek Poet. Just over a furlong out, the ground saving run inside proved too much for everyone to handle and with a burst of speed, he overtook the pacemaker and sprinted home to record a two-length win over Kelly Rycroft, who was incredible in second while holding off a charging King Cobra along the rail. Deja Steel did well from his outside draw to salvage a minor award while Buzzing, Cool Guy Twist and Bad Mouth all stalled badly in the final furlong when things should have been much closer. Both Toronto Candy (29.10) and Clown Candy (26.20) were wide throughout, Pure Trouble (14.60) and Excitable Boy (10.50) never got involved, Unsuited (13.05) was dismal when he should have been brilliant and Owain was no where to be found in the end, finishing five-lengths last after setting those wicked splits.

There were only two auto-generated horses in the Queens Plate Stakes field, both seemingly free in our Christmas giveaway, and while one finished well back in the field, Greek Poet ended up coming through an opening to score his first added money score, while increasing his bankroll eight-times over with the victory. The Prince of Wales Stakes looks like the next logical option and the hope is that he meets the same field, since he knows he can close into whatever pace is thrown at him, with any post position setting up his closing kick.

Congratulations goes out to owner Hawaiian Shirt Guy and their three-year-old gelding Greek Poet, an off-the-pace winner of the Queens Plate Stakes at WO!

Prediction            Deja Steel / Owain / Unsuited

Winner                 Greek Poet

                                Three-year-old gray gelding

                                Auto-Generated

Owner                   Hawaiian Shirt Guy

Time                       47.98, 1:11.77, 1:36.08, 2:01.11 (NSR)

Overall

Greek Poet             13.05 inside run, found room, driving

Kelly Rycroft          9.70 pressed from outside, clear late, outfinished

King Cobra             *3.20 inside trip, too late to win

Deja Steel                5.15 wide throughout, held well

Buzzing                    8.05 no late momentum

Cool Guy Twist       9.95 failed to menace

Bad Mouth               9.00 inside run, evened out

Toronto Candy        29.10 wide run

Clown Candy           26.20 wide run

Pure Trouble             14.60 no threat

Excitable Boy            10.50 outrun

Unsuited                    13.05 outrun

Owain                         48.60 set pace, faded badly

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: FEATURED STORIES