The Maid Of The Mist- $150.000 Purse
BEL- For Fillies Two Year Old Foaled In NY
One Mile on the Dirt
October 24, 2020

New York bred two year old fillies got their chance to shine as well at BEL on Saturday in the 13th running of the Maid Of The Mist. Run at a mile, this race provided trainers a great opportunity to see where their promising young horses might stack up before taking on stronger company at the graded level. After the race was run, it would be a horse that recently ran well in the Grade 3 Pocahontas, Just My Imagination, pulling off the win for her trainer, Second Chance Farms. She was among our top picks, and earned the first win in the race for both the trainer and jockey I Ortiz Jr. The time of the victory was 1:35.81, a middle of the road winning time in the race’s history. Congratulations to the winner! Let’s take a look!

(¼ Mile- :23.98)- While she was not aggressively pushed out to the lead, our eventual winner from Second Chance Farms, Just My Imagination would wind up with the early advantage after a quarter mile. This lead was slight as Lady Dreams, from La Canada Racehorses was strong on the outside and less then a half length behind. Also starting well, between them, Ms Bubblee, out of Triple K. These would be the quickest three, and it would be a length and a half to the fourth place Amalfi (D J C Racing Stables), and she had half a length over Maresfield (The Sidley Stud), who was our pick to win, and the post time favorite Firenze G (Mb Stables). Ku Deh (Night Rider Stables) was four lengths from the front, and the trailers would be True Identity (Maxmillion Farm) and La Becky (Arindel).

(½ Mile- :47.55)- During the backstretch, things change as both Just My Imagination and Lady Dreams begin to open up on the field. The gap became nearly a full four lengths as Ms Bubblee backed out of contention, but as they reached the top of the turn, Amalfi started to cut into that lead just a little bit, and was still three lengths out. Still, at this point, you had to like where Just My Imagination and Lady Dreams stood since this is not an overbearing half mile time. After Amalfi and the backtracking Ms Bubblee, Maresfield continued to be unhurried on the rail, and no one else was concerned about the top two at this point to begin making a push.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Imagination would prevail over Dreams in the turn as Lady Dreams was not able to keep up the pace and lost ground in the turn. Just My Imagination continued to run well at the front of the field, even with others beginning to close the gap. The pacesetter was still looking like she had plenty in the tank, and this was evident just as they reached the top of the stretch. Amalfi was making a good bid and closed to be just a length back, but it was still two and a half to Lady Dreams and Maresfield. For the moment, still, none of the others were making a bid from the back.

(Finish- 1:35.81)- On the rail, Just My Imagination continued to be just a little better than the outside running Amalfi and these two seemed destined for a good battle between them. However, a new player would appear on the scene late in the race and nearly stole the show. True Identity had not really made an impact up to this point, and with a furlong to go, she still had three and a half lengths to make up. But in the stretch, she would explode with run, and would rapidly make up ground. In the end, the maiden narrowly misses becoming one of those very rare maidens to win a stake, and Just My Imagination holds on for the win. True Identity did sneak in front of Amalfi for the second position, however. Fourth place spoils go to Maresfield, who prevailed over Ms Bubblee, La Becky, Firenze G, Lady Dreams, and Ku Deh.

About The Winner- Just My Imagination, trained by Second Chance Farms and ridden to victory by I Ortiz Jr, is a two year old filly by Just Missed, and is out of Chingachgook. She was bred in New York as a first quarter two year old and has been with the trainer throughout her career. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her third in five starts, and it is her first stake win. Her career earnings are now $165.700.

Track: Fast
Time: :23⁴  :47²  1:11   1:35⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 2 – 7 Paid 39.70
$1 Trifecta: 2 – 7 – 4 Paid 1,181.50

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded