SA 5 Megahertz (GIII)
$100.000 F&M 4yo&Up 1m Turf
My handicapping skills are beginning to look a lot like my training abilities… bad. However, I did predict that Lorraine would bounce back from that less than thrilling trip in the American Oaks (GI) and she did just that, showing her speed and getting under the wire first by a neck in the Megahertz (GIII) at SA on Monday, getting the mile distance in a final time of 1:33.41. Chill Chat lit up the board, grabbing the second spot at 50/1 odds while Kalishian the post time favorite finished third.
The field jetted away from the starting gate with Fixes on the early gas, Lorraine tracking that one with Grace Is Gone and Kalishian to her inside, Scarlet And Gray to her outside. Next came General Vegan, then Chill Chat, Infrastructure next to that one and Diluted was the early trailer.
Around the clubhouse turn and nearing the back stretch, five furlongs remained, Fixes continued to show the way by a half length, Lorraine still tracking that one. A length and a half back to Kalishian between horses, Grace Is Gone on the rail, Scarlet And Gray three side, then a gap of two back to Chill Chat caught wide, Diluted on her inside, General Vegan on the rail, then another length to Infrastructure.
They made their way down the backside and moved into the far turn with five-sixteenths to run, Lorraine moved up quickly and took command by two lengths. Fixes shuffled back to second with Kalishian at her side. Another gap back to Scarlet And Gray, Chill Chat still wide. Another length back to Grace Is Gone along the rail, Diluted, General Vegan behind that one and Infrastructure at the back.
Around the far turn and into the lane, they went past the furlong marker and Lorraine continued to show the way by a length and a half. Kalishian giving chase, a length to Chill Chat, still wide, Scarlet And Gray to her inside, Fixes on the rail but going in the wrong direction, Diluted asked for more, Grace Is Gone continuing to save ground, General Vegan and Infrastructure needed to find more to be part of this one.
Deep stretch and to the wire, Lorraine in front, Kalishian inching up, and now Chill Chat flying down the center of the track, and as they hit the wire, Lorraine was as game as a horse could be and won by a neck. Chill Chat was second with Kalishian third. Scarlet And Gray was fourth, then General Vegan, Infrastructure in sixth, Fixes tiring to be seventh, Grace Is Gone in eighth and a disappointing effort from Diluted, last in the field of nine.
Lorraine is a 4yo chestnut filly by Shark Force – Rook Around, by Rook and she was bred by her owner, Mo Mentum Farm, in Cal. This was her eighth win from nineteen starts and she now has earnings of $696.500. This class filly seems set for another huge year.
$2 Mutuel Prices:
| 4 – Lorraine | 9.70 | 6.00 | 3.40 |
| 8 – Chill Chat | 67.30 | 40.80 | |
| 2 – Kalishian | 3.00 |
Track: Firm Time: :224 :461 1:091 1:332
$1 Exacta: 4 – 8 Paid 894.20 $1 Trifecta: 4 – 8 – 2 Paid 489.80
Scratched: None
Lorraine stalked the early pace, up to take the lead when asked, clear through the lane, held foe late, won in a drive. Chill Chat under hold, wide trip, good late push and just missed. Kalishian was forwardly placed throughout, out-kicked late. Scarlet And Gray raced evenly throughout. General Vegan rated back off of the pace, some late foot. Infrastructure was outrun, passed tiring rivals. Fixes broke alertly to lead early, shuffled back while tiring. Grace Is Gone flashed speed, tired. Diluted was never involved.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
