The 19th Running of the WV Governors Stakes-G3
August 7, 2021 16:40
MNR Race #17 $200.000 11/16 Dirt
3YO 118 Lbs 4YO+ 123 Lbs
Track/Stakes Record-1:41.05 (Flamenco Beach-2018)
The good folks at MNR probably needed a day off on Sunday. After all, they ran races at the WV track for more than 12-hours on Saturday. The 17th race of the morning/afternoon/evening was the $200.000 G3 WV Governors Stakes. Breaking from post three and being prominent throughout, it was Need 4 Speed that would leave the wild and wonderful confines of MNR with the G3 victory and the four BC Classic/Dirt Mile points that come with it.
Early on, it was Machine Gun Tommy setting the pace in front of a group of four horses lined across the track. Getting the first quarter-mile in :23.79, the Nakamura Stables-trained gelding held a one length lead over stablemate Jumbo Bite. Unfortunately for Jumbo Bite, he was widest of all entering the first turn and being pushed to get in front of the trio on his inside. Even worse, he never made it and was caught widest throughout the first turn.
Just to Jumbo Bite‘s inside, Need 4 Speed pushed past that rival and set his sights on Machine Gun Tommy as the field reached the middle of the backstretch after a :47.48 half-mile. Entering the far turn, Need 4 Speed fully engaged the leader and found himself a length in front of a wall of horses as they hit three-quarters in 1:10.90.
At the top of the lane it appeared as though Need 4 Speed was home free; however, two new challengers emerged from the pack as Foolish Pleasure and Cp Dark Pain began gobbling-up the ground. The former never broke stride, but would only get within a length of the winner at the wire (1:41.30); however, the latter had to steady, ever so briefly, behind Need 4 Speed as A. Cedillo’s mount could not dip any further inside. The stewards took a look at it after Cedillo objected, but, in the end, the order remained unchanged.
Need 4 Speed (Rumble o/o Gropey Pinball), a 3yo gray gelding, improves his record to 10-7-1-0 for earnings of $316.380 and brings his BC point total to eight; good enough for 30th on the latest leaderboard. Foolish Pleasure earned two points for his 2nd place effort while tough luck Cp Dark Pain received one point for the show.
Congratulations to Kingelleinc and Need 4 Speed for their victory in the $200.000 G3 WV Governors Stakes at MNR!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
