Millions Distaff Preview ($100.000 Purse)
CRC- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward Foaled in FL
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
November 12, 2016

The ninth running of the Millions Distaff Preview took place down south at CRC this weekend as female FL-breds had a chance to compete for a $100.000 purse.  As is the case with statebred racing outside of NY and CA, the size of the field was disappointing, but the talent level of those who were entered still ensured that we would have a winner worthy of said purse.   Sweep Me Over was made a 7/5 favorite in the morning line and essentially stayed there at post time, though we were looking at a couple of others in here.  I was a little too concerned with her last race, but now any doubts you can say are, well, swept over.  She would win the race convincingly, giving trainer Alegria and jockey E Jaramillo their first wins in the race.  The time of the race was 1:22.02, a bit faster then last year’s running, which was the first time this was a seven furlong contest.  Congratulations! Let’s look at this result a bit more now.

1st- 4- Sweep Me Over (3/2)- Our eventual winner and post time favorite from Alegria was among the leaders right out of the gate.  Moved into second just as Florida Vacation moved past the quarter mile mark and pulled to within a length before E Jaramillo seemed content to wait for his time to strike, and tucked her in to a stalking position.  As they moved into the turn, a powerful move was not necessary, and Sweep Me Over just stayed on the rail and reeled in the frontrunner. They were even on exit of the turn, but Sweep Me Over was clearly in better stride at this point.   At the top of the stretch, she took over the lead, and in the final furlong, she was still at her best as she continued to pull away from the rest of the field, and gets the win, running in a time of 1:22.02! Sweep Me Over is a three year old filly by Sweep The Rites and out of Look Over.  She was bred in Florida by Boulevard as a first quarter two year old and was acquired by Alegria in June of this year for a $10.000 claiming tag.  Congratulations to the connections!

2nd- 5- Florida Vacation (32/1)- The unexpected longshot, from Red Barn Stables looked good out of the gate, and led the way after a quarter, running it in :23.23.  Picked up the pace a bit on the backstretch, running a half in :45.81 as Sweep Me Over stalked her from behind.  In the stretch, Sweep Me Over would complete the pass for the lead, but Florida Vacation seemed to be digging in enough to hold off all other rivals.  Had enough gas to complete the high paying exacta.

3rd- 1- Dogs Money Maka (5/2)- The Australia Wide filly was beaten at the start, and found herself with a quick four lengths to make up.  She was content to just ride along for the backstretch and did not cut in to the leader’s advantage into the turn.  Began to show her intention to move forward approaching the top of the stretch and would run well, but conceded too much ground to the top two early.  It was not a fruitless effort, as it enabled her to nip away third at the wire.

4th- 3- High Percentage (2/1)- Our pre-race selection from Axeman got off to a good start and kept herself within a length and a half as they made their way down the backstretch.  Lost a little bit of ground as the top of two began to approach the turn.  In the stretch, she has nothing for hte top two but seemed as though she’d hang on to third, but was somehow caught at the end.

5th- 2- Purple Power (5/1)- Starting the race at the back of the field, this Luz International entry was never able to make her presence felt.  She ran with Dogs Money Maka for a little while, but when that one began to move forward on exit of the turn, Purple Power would not.

Track: Fast
Time: :23¹  :45⁴  1:09³  1:22

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 4 – 5 Paid 123.70
$1 Trifecta: 4 – 5 – 1 Paid 854.20

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded