11/15/2020

  6  DMR     Hope Stakes (GIII)

$100.000           2yo         7f  Dirt            120lbs +penalties

These baby races are never easy for me, but when you just put Mb Stables on top, it sure does make it easier.  Howl Of The Hound left this race the way he came in, undefeated, as the gelding say chilly through the early fractions, moved up into the lane and went by Raw with ease to take the Hope Stakes (GIII) in a final time of 1:21.57 for the seven furlong, main track stakes, here at DMR.  Raw did all of the heavy lifting, setting the pace to the furlong marker, but just couldn’t match strides late, taking the second spot over Shimkal Storm, then a head back to Spectre in fourth. 

The gate was full and away in good order with Raw bouncing right out of the gate, Fascinating and Cosmic Tiger towards the inside, Shimkal Storm, Howl Of The Hound and Hesbalise, Spectre from the middle of the track, then Amber Waves, Red Bullet and Cutoff Bay was away slowest of all.

The field made their way down the backside and were nearing the far turn with five sixteenths of a mile to run, Raw leading every step of the way, two and a half lengths back to Herbalise on the outside of Shimkal Storm skimming the rail,  another two lengths back to Fascination between horses, Cosmic Tiger on the rail and Howl Of The moment three wide, another half length back to Spectre caught four wide, Then another length back to the trailing trio of Amber Waves, Red Bullet and Cutoff Bay.

Swing around the turn and to the top of the lane, they had a furlong to run and Raw had company as Howl Of The Hound moved up quickly to look him in the eye.  Three lengths back to Shimkal Storm on the rail, Specture down the far outside, Serbalse and Fascinating between horses, Cosmic Tiger trying to get going from the rail, then Red Bullet, Amber Waves and Cutoff Bay could see them all.

Inside the final 150-yards and to the finish, this was all about Howl Of The Hound as he pulled clear to take the victory.  Raw continued on well to hold the second spot with Shimkal Storm in third.  Spectre was fourth, then another length to Herbalise in fifth, Cosmic Tiger sixth, Red Bullet seventh, Fascinating eighth, Amber Waves ninth and Cutoff Bay closed this one out.

Howl Of The Hound is a 2yo black gelded son of Marry Me Mandy – Stop Traffic, by Laffin Policeman, and he was bred in NM by Jive Inc.  Acquired at the June 2020 Auction for $27.000, the Mb Stables trained charge remains a perfect three-for-three and now has earnings of $126.000. 

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast          Time: :22³  :45²  1:09¹  1:21²
$1 Exacta: 4 – 10 Paid 25.10            $1 Trifecta: 4 – 10 – 7 Paid 87.00
Scratched: None

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded