The 18th Running of the G2 DMR Handicap
August 21, 2021 20:00
DMR Race #10 $300.000 13/8 Mile Turf
3YO+ Handicap Weights
Track Record-2:10.87 (Fire-2012)
Stakes Record-2:11.25 (Momentus-2020)
Never Met Me made it three consecutive scores in the $300.000 G2 DMR Handicap for Mb Stables and punched his ticket for the G1 BC Turf in the process. Breaking from the middle of the twelve-horse field and battling on the front end for the entirety of the race’s 11-furlongs, Never Met Me hit the wire a nostril in front of the closing Ideal Gift in a time of 2:11.55.
It was a three-horse battle on the front end through the opening quarter-mile with City Watch leading from the three-path in :24. Never Met Me was in between the John Henry-runner and Money Truck on the rail as they refused to allow the leader to clear. Lillehammer was a clear fourth three lengths behind the leaders and racing on the rail.
Passing the stands for the first time, the three held their positions as they clipped a half-mile in :47.71. Behind them, Fuji made an early move to 4th and got within a length of the leaders while staying in the three path as the horses passed the stands for the first time. Never Met Me stuck his nose in front as they passed three-quarters in 1:11.29, but City Watch remained glued to his outside. Money Truck, still on the rail, had dropped a length behind the front two, but was a length clear of Fuji on his outside.
As he completed the mile in 1:34.83, Never Met Me had put City Watch away, but Fuji and Money Truck were still chasing him and Ideal Gift started launching his run from well back. Entering the stretch, Never Met Me was two-lengths clear of Ideal Gift, but that runner was steadily eating into that advantage. Fuji was trying to match strides while Money Truck wasn’t losing ground, but he wasn’t gaining ground either and Guardian was making steady progress from 5th.
Ideal Gift closed resolutely, but Never Met Me reached the wire just a fraction of a tick sooner. It was almost three lengths back to Fuji in 3rd as beat Guardian to the wire by a neck. Completing the order of finish were Money Truck, Torque Converter, City Watch, Lillehammer, and Mock Galaxy.
Never Met Me (Anybody Home o/o Chai Chai Again) secures an automatic birth in the G1 BC Turf and improves his record to 25-6-7-2 for earnings of $696.250. Tough-luck Ideal Gift receives four BC points for his runner-up effort while Fuji takes home two BC points for his show performance.
Congratulations to Never Met Me and Mb Stables for their victory in the $300.000 G2 DMR Handicap!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
