FG Stakes (Grade 3)- $150.000 Purse
FG- One Mile and One Eighth on the Turf
For Four Year Olds and Upward
February 15, 2020
Heading into the race, it seemed as though Multiple Shadows would be one of the top horses in the field, and that this could be a good spot for her. The presence of Going Gone in the field made it tough to put her on top, but all she had to do is finally figure out how to run well in a graded stake. Her run prior to this, in the Tropical Turf Stakes, was probably a lot better then it seemed in the program, and she would build off of that in impressive fashion. Another one of our top three picks, Tourniquet, finished second, so I can’t make sense of the high prices this one paid out. If only I could have really gotten a piece of that action. For some reason, B N Broadway was made the favorite here. The winning trainer here is Our Athletes, and he captures this stake for the first time. That is also true for jockey M Tunon, so congratulations to both of them! The time of the win was 1:45.63, a middle of the road time in the stake’s history. Let’s take a look at it!
(½ Mile- :46.66)- Out of the gate, both Freaky Onez, out of Maxmillion Farm, and Cheapsnake, from Nakamura Stables break well and look as though they will decide the early lead between them. Cheapsnake backs off just a little bit as they begin running around the first turn, and a new challenger emerges in the form of B N Broadway, the highly unexpected post time favorite for the race, running for Nolespan Racing. Going Gone is not going to be left behind, and the John Henry entry joins this group while on the rail. It’s a gap of about two lengths to the next horse in line, and that will be the race’s ultimate winner, Multiple Shadows, for Our Athletes. He is by himself for the time being, with Tourniquet (Mo Mentum Farm) and Na Dene (Team 7 Illusions) running side by side a length behind him, while having Roger Rabbit (Rampage Stable) nearby. Trailing were So Lonely (Diablo Diablo), then Running Bien (Chili King Stables).
(3/4 Mile- 1:09.76)- Freaky Onez leads the field down the backstretch, and has put away all of his rivals right now, opening up an advantage of a length and a half. B N Broadway still has those who picked him looking smart as he runs well in second, with Going Gone in a very good, “no excuses” type position, in third. Cheapsnake backs out of the lead group, handing over the fourth position to Multiple Shadows, who is still three lengths back. Behind these five, we don’t see anyone else pushing forward quite yet, but there is still plenty of time.
(Top Of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- Completing the run around the turn, it’s still Freaky Onez, and we are used to seeing those silks in the lead on the grass, so has the field let him get away here. Going Gone has had a great trip so far, and continues to run in the second position, and while B N Broadway is still in the mix, he has new company now as Multiple Shadows has pulled up to his outside with now less then two lengths to make up. Tourniquet is starting to follow him through now and looms as a possible threat here. Na Dene had the money lane all to himself if he had the legs underneath him, and So Lonely was going to take it extra wide here. Cheapsnake had only dropped further, and Roger Rabbit was lacking response. Running Bien was looking like maybe he’d get by a few but was not show a significant push forward.
(Finish- 1:45.63)- The intensity of the stretch battle heats up pretty quickly as Multiple Shadows makes quick work of Freaky Onez to take over the race lead. He has a battle, though, as Going Gone was still in good form on the rail, and Tourniquet was closing the ground quickly. Meanwhile, on the far outside, So Lonely is making an excellent bid. Closer to the wire, Going Gone bows out, so it becomes a three way run to the finish, and we would need a photo to decide who got the win between Multiple Shadows and Tourniquet, with So Lonely not being lonely in terms of being in this picture as well, though he was not quite with the top two. In the end, it is Multiple Shadows in a thrilling win over Tourniquet, and So Lonely getting third. Going Gone does get the fourth place check, but seemed destined for better. Freaky Onez holds off Running Bien for fifth, then its Na Dene, B N Broadway, Roger Rabbit, and Cheapsnake.
About The Winner- Multiple Shadows, trained by Our Athletes, and ridden to victory by M Tunon is a four year old colt by Strategic Command, and is out of Sneaky Lady. He was bred as a second quarter two year old in Kentucky by Our Athletes, the only trainer for which he has ever known. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fourth in 12 starts, second stake win, and first graded win. His career earnings are now $211.410.
Track: Firm
Time: :463 1:093 1:333 1:453
$2 Mutuel Prices:
$1 Exacta: 3 – 5 Paid 859.60
$1 Trifecta: 3 – 5 – 8 Paid 1,217.30
Scratched: None
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
