Multiple Shadows Steps Up in The Wise Dan

By Nynl Stables on June 21, 2020

The Wise Dan (Grade 2)- $200.000 Purse
CD- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Turf
June 20, 2020

Back in February, Multiple Shadows ran the best race of his career in the Grade 3 FG Stakes, but has not been the same since. That did not stop his trainer, Our Athletes, from showing his faith in the colt, and on Saturday, he would be rewarded for that confidence. While we did not pick Multiple Shadows in the preview, it did seem as though if he could duplicate that form, he would be one of the top horses here. He has been a bit of a “win or nothing” type horse lately, but after results like this, no one will complain. It is the first win in the Wise Dan for Our Athletes and jockey F Geroux. Congratulations to them! The time of the victory was 1:39.86. Let’s take a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :23.19)- Coming out of the starting gate, it is Sneaky Little Monkii who takes the early lead, and the Nakamura Stables entry has a nearly length advantage as they move into the opening turn. He cannot move all the way to the rail quite yet, because the second place Catch A Buzz, from Maxmillion Farm had started right beside him and therefore keeps him in his lane. Lunar Blaze, despite starting right to his inside, was able to move to the rail and runs third for John Henry. Mb Stables’ General Ferro holds the fourth spot, and is within half a length of Lunar Blaze. After a small gap, Command Authority runs all by himself for Nakamura Stables, ahead of another small gap. That is where we find our eventual race winner, Multiple Shadows from Our Athletes, who is the outside horse of a three wide group. To his inside are Puzzle (La Canada Racehorses) and Jamie Mach (RNP Stables), and they are five lengths from the lead. After another length, it’s Paris Diplomat (D J C Racing Stables) and Arkenstone (Mb Stables). The trailers are Inicnam (Our Athletes) and Cherra Grans (John Henry).

(½ Mile- :46.08)- Even though it seemed like he could have moved over much earlier, Sneaky Little Monkii finally moves to the rail two thirds of the way into the turn. Once entering the backstretch, he opens his lead up to an uncontested two lengths. Catch A Buzz, the longest shot on the board holds the second position, with both Lunar Blaze and General Ferro still running close by. Next is Command Authority, still keeping to himself, with Puzzle and Jamie Mach next in line. Multiple Shadows actually loses half a length to the two that he had been running with before, and now trailed by six. Still, he would have a clear path to move forward when he chose to do so. No change with those running behind him.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- As soon as the field hit the top of the turn, Multiple Shadows put the pedal to the metal and began making up ground very quickly. Running in the money lane, he still had a clear path, though did have to fan out five wide while within the turn due other movement going on within the pack. Hitting the top of the stretch, he had cut his deficit to now be just a little more then two lengths, and that is to the new race leader, Catch A Buzz. The longshot had passed Sneaky Little Monkii towards the exit of the turn, and was in full stride here. Command Authority had moved forward and was even for second with the race’s original pacesetter. Lunar Blaze seemed to be lacking response here. General Ferro maintained his position, but was neither coming or going, while both Puzzle and Jamie Mach looked for room to run in the middle of the field. Paris Diplomat was the only who was back in the field who seemed poised to make his run, but it might have been delayed. In the turn, it looked like C Landeros was going to put a run on Multiple Shadows, but opted to wait. That hesitation, in hindsight, cost him the race.

(Finish- 1:39.86)- Early in the stretch, it looked like Command Authority was going to emerge as the top threat for a win, but once he pulled even with Catch A Buzz, he could not do anything more. On the outside, the progression of Multiple Shadows was gradual but effective, getting closer with every stride, and then getting up just in time as they hit the wire to get the win! Catch A Buzz settles for losing the headbob, and the second spot. It was very tight at the wire, though, as Jamie Mach split the seams well, and Paris Diplomat made his delayed run count. They each take third in a dead heat, barely over Command Authority, who seemed destined for much better then this fifth place finish. General Ferro and his late running stablemate dead heat for sixth, barely over Puzzle. All eight of these horses were within a length. Rounding out the order, it is Lunar Blaze, Inicnam, Cherra Grans, and Sneaky Little Monkii.

About The Winner- Multiple Shadows, trained by Our Athletes, and ridden to victory by F Geroux, is a four year old colt by Strategic Command, and is out of Sneaky Lady. He was bred in Kentucky as a second quarter two year old by the trainer, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fifth in 15 starts, his third stake win, and second graded win. His career earnings are now $331.410.

Horse Name

Owner Name

Jockey

Odds

Fin

Time

SRF

Multiple Shadows

Our Athletes

Geroux F

7.95

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