January 19, 2016
As with any stakes race, weight can play a huge factor and that was certainly the case with the SSM Distaff as Key West Minibus, getting two-pounds from one of her main rivals and six-pounds from the favourite, came through the middle to score by a scant whisker for her initial added-money win. A daughter of Iron Chito from the same crop as Grade III winning sprint Caymanas Park, she has had a case of second-itis her entire career but came through with a big win to start off her five-year-old campaign and now, sports six career wins and almost $350.000 in earnings for happy owner Night Rider Stables.
Behrens Bride (*0.60) burst from the starting gate and assumed command out of the chute in the Distaff but Ulster Star (5.55) kept her wide for the first furlong but eventually found herself three-wide down the backstretch. As the quintet sprinted through the first panel in 23.20, the heavy favourite was being tested and into the backstretch, being collared by Ulster Star with High Percentage (4.60) inside and Key West Minibus (3.40) trying to make a move. Behrens Bride started her decline around the far turn as Ulster Star took command through a half-mile in 46.28, the stalkers were still trying, slowly but surely. to make gains. At the head of the lane, High Percentage really got going and engaged the leader outside but she ended up swinging wider than necessary and that left room for Key West Minibus to come rocketing through. With a 1/16th to go, it was left to those three as Ulster Star looked beaten but while she ended up coming back for second over High Percentage, it was Key West Minibus to who got up in the last two jumps to secure the win in a blanket finish. Shes A Dog (3087.85) came on briefly to tackle Behrens Bride for fourth but in the end, neither was good enough at this vastly different odds to contend for the victory.
Key West Minibus sat the perfect trip behind quick splits in the SSM Distaff and came on for a huge victory; her first in stakes competition and one that will set her up nicely for a big season ahead at these sprint distances. Races like the Minaret and the Grade II Inside Information keep her in FL until the ultimate prize, the Grade I Humana Distaff at CD that should be perfect for her seven-furlong talent.
Congratulations goes out to owner Night Rider Stables and their five-year-old mare Key West Minibus, a last jump winner of the SSM Distaff at GP!
Prediction Behrens Bride / Ulster Star / Key West Minibus
Winner Key West Minibus
Five-year-old black mare
Iron Chito-Fieldsofanfield Road (Trotters Dream)
Owner Night Rider Stables
Time 23.20, 46.28, 1:10.07, 1:22.43
Overall
Key West Minibus 3.40 stalked, between rivals, up in time
Ulster Star 5.55 took command, headed, came back for second
High Percentage 4.60 wide run into lane, faltered late
Shes A Dog 3087.85 no threat
Behrens Bride *0.60 set pace, weakened
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
