9/18/21

  7   CD   Iroquois (GIII) [BC]

      $200.000    2yo        1m  Dirt        120lbs

I told ya to be careful… Mb does not play!  Looking at Blasphemy‘s last two races, it would have been easy to dismiss the youngster as just another horse… nah, this guy isn’t the King for nuthin‘!!  Closing like a freight train down the lane, the bay colt pulled away in the late goings of the Iroquois (GIII) to win by two in a final time of 1:35.01 for the flat mile, main track stakes.  Post-time favorite (and my top choice) Suikoden II ran on well for the second spot, a quarter length better than Junkyard Dog in third.  It was another three-quarters of a length back to Suspect in fourth.  That was a new stakes record, shaving a half-second off of the old one. 

The field of twelve loaded into the gate, starting from the one-mile chute back in the parking lot, and were away in good order with no shortage of speed, as we had four going at it…  Bronze Slayer with a nose on Two Bit Liar from the far outside, Suikoden II along the inside and Crypto from the three path.  A gap back to Junkyard Dog along the rail, Blasphemy between horses and Suspect on the outside of that trio, then another gap back to Tiger Shark on the outside of Paco on the rail, Proud Fury between horses, then Cherokee Charley and Foreign Relation was the early trailer.

They made the long run down the backside and were nearing the turn with three and a half furlongs to run, Suikoden II skimming the rail and in front by a nose, but Two Bit Liar was keeping the pressure on with Crypto between them and backing out of the dual.  A gap of two back to the trio of Bronze Slayer between Junkyard Dog from the rail, Suspect on the outside, another gap to Blasphemy, then Tiger Shark on the outside of that one.  Another gap to Proud Fury, Paco to his inside, Cherokee Charley and Foreign Relation. 

Swing around the turn and to the top of the lane, Suikoden II was flexing his muscle and now had a length and a half lead.  Two Bit Liar put the cue in the rack, Crypto next, Junkyard Dog cut the corner and was moving up the rail, Suspect widest of all and Blasphemy now moving forward from the inside.  Bronze Slayer next to that one, then Tiger Shark, Paco, Foreign Relation and Cherokee Charley now the back marker.   

Inside the eighth pole and to the finish, Suikoden II with the lead, but Blasphemy with a big push and the lead was shrinking with every stride, Junkyard Dog using his inside position to slip into contention, the wide trio of Crypto, Two Bit Liar and Suspect… the remaining group trying to find more but it was a struggle… now inside the final 150-yard, Blasphemy went right on by Suikoden II and took the win by two widening length.  Suikoden II in the second spot by a quarter length over Junkyard Dog, with Suspect grabbing the fourth spot.  Crypto was fifth, Bronze Slayer sixth, Tiger Shark seventh, Foreign Relation eighth, Proud Fury ninth, Two Bit Liar tenth, Paco eleventh and Cherokee Charley closed this one out.      

Blasphemy is a 2yo bay colt by Apples To Oranges – Tolerant, by Chai Latte, and he was bred in Cal by his owner, Mb Stables.  This was his second win from four starts, and he now shows earnings of $156.600.  As a half-brother to a hand-full of stakes winning and stakes placed siblings, you have to think the sky is the limit for this colt.  Congrats to Mb Stables and Blasphemy for the victory!

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast                    Time: :23³  :46⁴  1:10²  1:35     **New Stakes Record**
$1 Exacta: 6 – 3 Paid 80.00             $1 Trifecta: 6 – 3 – 5 Paid 1,271.70
Scratched: Mad Diplomat, Dry Aged

Blasphemy broke in hand, rated off of the pace while racing in the 2p, began to move forward out of the turn and into the lane, closing fastest of all, kicking clear late.  Suikoden II broke alertly moving with the pace, took over leaving the chute, leading to just inside the eighth pole, headed, settled.  Junkyard Dog just in behind the early pace, securing a rail position, cut the corner, good late effort while no threat to the winner.  Suspect raced mid-pack to the top of the lane, fanned widest for the drive, best of rest.  Crypto forced the pace to the furlong marker, evenly from there.  Bronze Slayer broke alertly, narrow lead until leaving the chute, headed while continuing to press the pace, tired late.  Tiger Shark wide trip, passed tiring rivals late.  Foreign Relation lacked early speed, some late interest, wide.  Proud Fury was never involved.  Two Bit Liar showed good speed to the furlong marker, stopped.  Paco was outrun.  Cherokee Charley was outrun. 

Categories: BC 2021-2023, Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES, THE BREEDERS CUP