October 27, 2015
There were a few win-shy horses in the Mohawk at BEL and Make A Decision was one of them but after being bet down from morning line odds of 50-1 to a reasonable 5.5-1 price, he responded in the stretch with a huge rally to run down longshot Star O Star and record his fourth career win. A son of Got Baked, a regally bred colt from Timepiece and Halfbaked, with combined earnings of nearly $10,000.000, he has shown good form in his two previous turf starts and put it all together here, running down the speed for a 99-rating that ranks as his best in 24 career efforts.
No one was really keen on taking the early lead in the Mohawk and favourite Native Tongue (*2.25) almost inherited the lead while four-wide into the backstretch, with Commercial Grade (4.90) second and Star O Star (10.10) hanging in third inside. The leader tried to get down to the rail through the opening split in 23.48 but was unable to until mid way down the backstretch and that left Commercial Grade outside with a trip that no one really wanted. Star O Star moved forward past four-furlongs in 46.87 as Acquired Taste (4.20) sat the perfect trip and heading into the far turn, the longshot actually looked to have the best momentum with eyes on a big prize. Native Tongue was quickly headed around the far turn as a wall of three lined up through six-panels in 1:10.35 but at the head of the lane, it was Star O Star who looked bound and determined to win this at all costs. Headlong into the lane with a near two-length cushion, he looked to be free and clear until Make A Decision (5.50) started to run hard and in the blink of an eye, he swallowed up the leader en route to a going-away half-length win. Star O Star was a clear second from Commercial Grade, who was well clear of Native Tongue along the rail and the duo of Acquired Taste and Avoid Risk (2.70), who never got involved despite excellent efforts coming in.
Make A Decision has never been a big win-type horse and in taking victory for only the fourth time in his career, he certainly proved best in the Mohawk while only making this third start on the grass and first at BEL in over a year. With turf racing all but done in NY for the season, he will probably have to take his talents south and a race like the Grade III Tropical Turf Handicap is possible, if he gets the right weight.
Congratulations goes out to owner D J C Racing Stables and their four-year-old colt Make A Decision, a hard charging winner of the Mohawk at BEL!
Prediction Acquired Taste / Commercial Grade / Avoid Risk
Winner Make A Decision
Four-year-old gray colt
Got Baked-Ralaos (Highway 66)
Owner D J C Racing Stables
Time 23.48, 46.87, 1:10.35, 1:40.10
Overall
Make A Decision 5.50 sat patiently, found clear running, driving
Star O Star 10.10 took command late, caught
Commercial Grade 4.90 pressed outside, no late push
Native Tongue *2.25 brief speed, even late effort
Acquired Taste 4.20 stalked, no response
Avoid Risk 2.70 outrun
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
