9/18/22

  6   AQU    The Pebbles (GIII)   

$150.000            3yoF           1m  InTurf            122lbs +penalties

Upset special it is!!  Sent off as the 18/1 outsider, Black N Gold Stable’s Lady Hilltopper closed from well off of the pace, getting up in deep stretch to win by a length and take Sunday’s The Pebbles (GIII) at AQU.  The final running time was 1:33¹ for the flat mile over the Firm sod here at The Big A.  Post time favorite Freak Event pressed the pace throughout but had nothing left for the eventual winner, settling for the place.    Be Genuine closed from the back of the pack to nose out pace-setter Pocono Life for the third spot.  Seven lengths covered the field in this one.

Lady Hilltopper is a 3yo bay filly by Pinnacle West – P O A, by Good Authority, and she was bred in KY by Our Atheletes.  Black N Gold Stables dropped the tag on this one for $14.000 back in Feb and she has three wins for the conditioner since, an Alw win, the Honeymooner (GIII) at SA and now this race.  Great work by the trainer.  She now has four wins from eight starts, her only off the board race was in the BEL Oaks (GI) – certainly, nothing to be ashamed of – and she has lifetime earnings of $202.580.  Congrats to the Connections! 

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Firm            Time: :23   :46¹  1:09³  1:33¹
$1 Exacta: 5 – 6 Paid 70.20           $1 Trifecta: 5 – 6 – 8 Paid 495.80
Scratched: None           

Lady Hilltopper off a step slower, raced 2p to the far turn, moved to 3p then fanned for the drive, closed from the far outside to engage the leader at the sixteenth pole, pulling away late.  Freak Event raced mid-pack 2p, began to move forward down the backside and into the far turn, coming to even terms with the pace setter in the lane, good effort.  Be Genuine showed little to the top of the lane, cut the corner, closed well between horses from an inside position, best foot too late.  Pocono Life broke alertly setting the pace to near the sixteenth pole, caught, ceded.    Venture In Belief stalked the pace while using a ground saving trip to press the leader, clear path from the inside with a furlong to run, tired.  Stacysmomgotitgoinon rated early, edged forward backside and into the turn, tired.  Tapit Dancer forced the pace to the far turn, tired.  Sheena The Westie was raced mid-pack to the far turn, tired. 

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES