12/12/20

 9  GP     The Ft. Lauderdale Stakes (GII)
$200.000    3yo&Up         1 1/8m  Turf         3yo 120lbs Older 123lbs +penalties

Holy smokes… The Green Card handing out the exacta in this one, and what an exacta it was as Lets Do It Big Boy showed that age is just a number, taking the Ft Lauderdale Stakes (GII) by a half length getting the mile and an eight in 1:45¹ on the firm GP turf.  If you want to talk numbers, Market Value filled that void getting the second spot at 99/1 (457/1) and set off a huge exacta and trifecta payoff.  Technic was a head back in third and just nosed out Hammerfest in fourth. 

The field of ten loaded into the gate at the top of the lane here in Hallendale and away from the gate with Moving Pictures showing early speed, Market Value and Technic away well, then a line that included Red Headed Spirit, Jacks Full, Bannister, and Hammerfest from the far outside. Back to the rail for Fog Machine, Lets Do It Big Boy was next and Multiple Shadows was the early trailer.

Through the lane the first time by and now dashing off into the clubhouse turn, they had a bit more than six furlongs to run and Hammerfest moved up five wide to stick a head in front.  Bannister just to his inside, then down to the rail for Moving Pictures.  another half length to Market Value on the inside of Technic, then a gap of two back to Jacks Full, another length to Red Headed Spirit on the inside of Lets Do This Big Boy, down to the rail for Fog Machine and Multiple Shadows continued to be the back marker, six lengths covered the field.

Move around the clubhouse turn and now down the backside with a bit less than four furlongs to run, Hammerfest was now in front by a length, Moving Pictures continued to track the pace from the rail, two lengths back to the duo of Market Value on the inside of  Bannister, another length and a half back to Technic, Jacks Full on his outside, then a length and a half to Fog Machine on the rail, Lets Do It Big Boy in the three path, Red Headed Spirit between that pair and Multiple Shadows was still the trailer, well back.

Now making their way around the far turn and to the top of the lane, they were nearing the furlong marker and Hammerfest was now feeling pressure from Market Value on the outside, Technic and Lets Do It Big Boy trying to move forward, Moving Pictures from the inside and Bannister from the outside, back towards the inside for Fog Machine, Red Headed Spirit on his flank, then Multiple Shadows and Jacks Full was now the trailer.

Inside the final 150-yards and to the finish… we had a four horse battle as Market Value had a nose in front trying to pull off a huge upset… Lets Do It Big Boy gaining with every stride, Hammerfest not going away, and Technic towards the inside with every chance, but as they neared the shadow of the wire, Lets Do It Big Boy got the better of them and went under the wire in front by a half length.  It was bang-bang-bang after that, but the photo showed that rank outside Market Value took the place, a head in front of Technic, then the slimmest of margins to Hammerfest in fourth.  Fog Machine was fifth, Multiple Shadows was sixth, Red Headed Spirit was seventh, Bannister eighth, Jacks Full ninth and Moving Pictures was tenth.

Lets Do It Big Boy is a bay 6yo gelded son of Cherokee Sunset – Black Shapes, by Jolly Be Great, and he was bred by Team 7 Illusions in Cal.  Acquired by RNP Stables back in Oc of 2018 for $125.000 via Private Purchase, this was his ninth lifetime win from fourty-three starts, three of those coming this season, and he now shows earnings of $,695.770, and he showing no signs of slowing down. 

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Firm             Time: :46²  1:09²  1:33²  1:45¹
$1 Exacta: 5 – 3 Paid 1,119.70           $1 Trifecta: 5 – 3 – 6 Paid 1,508.00
Scratched: None

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES