May 30, 2016

A pair of Grade I winners were set to do battle in the Grade III AP Matron on Saturday afternoon but after the dust cleared at the end of nine grueling furlongs, it was little known and lightly raced Iron Fog who stole the show, running down a loose Pure Lisa to score her first added-money win in only her third career start. Purchased for a small sum late last year, owner Teamf Racing decided to put her against tough company off a single maiden score and was rewarded with their first Graded Stakes victory, with many more to come against both fellow three-year-olds and older runners down the line.

Iron Fog (6.90) broke very well at the start of the AP Matron but was quickly overtaken by heavy favourite Pure Lisa (*0.75) into the first turn and from there, the four-year-old pressed forward to take a clear lead with Ancient Royalty (2.60) the only entrant to drop far off the early pace. The leader was able to get down to the rail around the first turn and into the long AP backstretch and everyone seemed to find a nice spot to race with Technomin (26.95) tucked into third and Behrens Bride (4.55) right behind the stalkers in fourth, only four-lengths from the front. Positions remained unchanged as the field of five marched to the far turn, through the half-mile in a solid 47.67, and Pure Lisa looked well within herself through the six-furlongs in 1:11.44 as well, with Iron Fog waiting to pounce. As the field swept around the far turn, the leader angled inside while her shadow angled wider into the track and with clear sailing, it came down to those two for the final furlong. Pure Lisa was all heart through one-mile in 1:36.17 but the fractions got the better of her in the last little bit and Iron Fog was able to wear her down and score by a hard-fought neck, with Technomin rallying for third while a nose from Pure Lisa in second. Behrens Bride and Ancient Royalty were unable to close into the late pace and wound up with the latter portions in a race where everyone had their shot but no one really make any late gains, apart from the winner.

Iron Fog was purchased for only $12.700 last December and was only making her third career start but used a stalking trip and a five-pound weight advantage to run down Grade I winner Pure Lisa and score the Grade III AP Matron in Saturday afternoon. The final time was solid and there are races that set up nicely for her like the NY Oaks and the SAR Dew but it will be interesting to see how she fares on equal weights against three-year-olds, with so many lucrative prizes out there.

Congratulations goes out to owner Teamf Racing and their three-year-old filly Iron Fog, a going-away winner of the Grade III AP Matron!

Prediction             Behrens Bride / Pure Lisa / Ancient Royalty

Winner                  Iron Fog

                                 Three-year-old bay filly

                                 Vaguely Silver-Iron Crotches (Iron Chito)

Owner                    Teamf Racing

Time                       47.67, 1:11.44, 1:36.17, 1:49.06

Overall

Iron Fog                 6.90 broke well, patient, up in time

Pure Lisa                *0.75 set pace outside, clear into lane, weakened

Technomin            26.95 stalked, minor late rally

Behrens Bride        4.55 no threat

Ancient Royalty    2.60 outrun from start

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES