The field loaded into the gate on the backside, the flag went up… Off and running in the 2024 BC F&M Turf…  they made the short run to the far turn and now midway around, Ponzi Scheme on the lead from the rail, Poetic Panther 3p, and Camus between that pair, then a length back to the fore-some of Painville from the rail, La Terrifiant next to that one, Be Exceptional on the outside and Demanding Commander in the three six-horse.  Another length to Bella Latte, down to the inside for Lady Hilltopper, Let Me Explain on the outside of Techfluence High, Tapioca Pudding on the inside, another gap to Lakota Wind and Afar could see them all.

Down the lane and under the wire the first time by, they were now mid-way around the clubhouse turn with five and a half furlongs to run, Poetic Panther had moved up from the outside to wrestle away the lead, Ponzi Scheme wasn’t going away that easy and continued the pursuit from the rail, another length back to Camus, likewise to Painville on the rail, La Terrifiant to her inside and Be Exceptional caught four-wide.  Another length to Demanding Commander in the three-path, then a length to the foursome of Bella Latte, Lady Hilltopper on the rail, Tapioca Pudding three wide and Let Me Explain on her outside.  Another gap to Techfluence High, Lakota Wind and Afar still the trailer.

Down the backside and nearing the far turn, three furlongs to run and Poetic Panther continue to show the way by three-quarters of a length, Ponzi Scheme continuing to track that one from the rail, Painville inching up two-path, Camus just behind that one then La Terrifiant inching forward.  Tapioca Pudding on the move four wide, Be Exceptional just to her inside, then a gap to a line that included Demanding Commander from the rail, Lady Hilltopper next to that one, then Bella Latte and Let Me Explain widest of that group.  A gap of two to Lakota Wind on the outside of Techfluence High and Afar still the back marker.

Around the far turn, into the lane, and flying past the furlong marker… this race was becoming what we had all hoped it would be Ponzi Scheme with a short lead, Poetic Panther not going away, but now defending champion Painville was gaining on that pair and in a scary way… on the far outside, Tapioca Pudding putting in a late push and the big mare, La Terrifiant emerged from the pack to make her presence felt, Camus headed in the wrong direction, Lady Hilltopper trying to find more, then a gap back to the remainder that needed to find more, a lot more, if they were going to make any difference in this loaded bunch.

If you didn’t have the popcorn ready, shame on you… the last furlong of this one is just pure horse racing. 

Inside the final sixteen and… a six-horse battle to the wire… Painville sticking a nose in front of Ponzi Scheme, Tapioca Pudding flying down the center of the track, Poetic Panther still right there, La Terrifiant looming and Lady Hilltopper next to that one…  but as they neared the final 150-yards, Painville now in front by a length, Tapioca Pudding inching up the others were digging in, but it was too late, Painville under the wire by three quarters of a length.  Tapioca Pudding took the second spot, a half-length better than Ponzi Scheme in third, nosing out Lady Hilltopper, taking the minor money.  Poetic Panther was three-quarters of a length back in fifth, La Terrifiant sixth, another nose to Lakota Wind in seventh, Afar closing a late gap to be eighth, Bella Latte ninth, Camus tenth, Be Exceptional eleventh, Techfluence High twelfth, Demanding Commander thirteenth, and Let Me Explain closed this one out. 

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Painville was bred in LA by Childs Play and is owned by Mo Mentum Farm.  This was her thirteenth win from thirty-four starts, her third win of the season, and she went over the four thousand in earnings mark, now at $4,007.930.  Congrats to the connections!   

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