11/4/23

  17  SA   BC Classic – GI       

   $6,000.000        3yo&Up      1 1/4m Dirt         Weight 3yo 122lbs  Older 126lbs   

Even for me, that was bad… then again, looking at the tote board, it was tough on just about everyone.  When the dust settled on the last race of a very interesting BC weekend, the BC Classic (GI) proved two things… don’t look at the odds and when a horse is due, look out.  Night Rider Stables‘ Sexy Back had a string of close races, after that Met Mile (GI) win, but made that miler speed hold-up at a mile and a quarter, getting home in a snappy 2:00.40, while winning by the slimmest of margins to take this championship stakes at 36/1 odds.  Quiet Return, owned by Allinthegate, gave every ounce he had trying to run down the eventual winner, but the photo said no and the runner up spot was his, another double-digit odds runner at 11/1.  Hiei, from the Fractious outfit, was a half-length back in third, also fitting the bill at 10/1, with Mb Stables’ Jacks Courage fourth.  Seven lengths covered the full field of fourteen.   

Into the starting the gate, the flag was up and off and running in the 2023 BC Classic…  quickest from the gate was Sexy Back, Crack Dab from the far outside, Quiet Return and Individuation.  Back towards the outside for Gorogue Laga and Eight West party, inside to Jacks Courage, Ey Mon was next, then outside to Smoking Make You Il, back towards the inside to Wahpekute Sioux, Hiei, then Lets Celebrate, Home Spirit and Spankersville was the early trailer.

Under the wire and past the stands for the first time, they were now mid-way around the clubhouse turn with six and a half furlongs to run.  Sexy Back showing the way by a half length, Crack Dab applying the pressure to the leader, Quiet Return three wide and Gorogue Laga four wide.  Jacks Courage just in behind that foursome with Individuation next to him, anther length to Ey Mon on the rail, Eight West part on his flank, Smoking Makes You Il three wide, then a gap to Hiei on the rail, Wahpekute Sioux next to that one, Spankersville, with Home Spirit and Let’s Celebrate now bringing up the rear. 

They made the run down the backside, now nearing the far turn with three and a half furlongs to run, Sexy Back kicking away to lead by two, Quiet Return now trying to keep that one honest, Gorogue Laga still three wide, Crack Dab feeling the pain of giving the leader a tussle backing out of it to fourth, Individuation now three wide and asked to move up, Jacks Courage to his inside.  Another gap to Eight West Party, Ey Mon to his inside and Spankersville on his outside, Hiei still saving ground, Wahpekute Sioux next to him, Smoking Makes You Il backing up, Home Spirit and Let’s Celebrate could see them all.

Around the far turn and to the top of the lane, moving past the three-sixteenths pole and Sexy Back was making every stride in front, continuing to lead by a length, Quiet Return now inching up a bit, Gorogue Laga continuing the chase in third, then a gap to Jacks Courage as Individuation fanned out for racing room, Ey Mon between that pair, then the foursome of Hiei, Crack Dab, Hiei, out wider to Eight West Party and Spankersville, Wahpekute Sioux just behind that group, then the trailing trio of Smoking Makes You Il, Home Spirit and Lets Celebrate. 

Deep stretch and to the finish, Sexy Back still leading, Quiet Return now inching up with every stride, Gorogue Laga down the center, Jacks Courage from the rail and Hiei moving forward… Individuation feeling the whip to defend his title, the story line was right before us… who had the heart to take it? 

As they hit the wire, it was a two horse battle Sexy Back trying to hold on, Quiet Return on him like a … and as they hit the wire together, it was too close to call… and the PHOTO sign was illuminated on the tote board.  After viewing the instant video replay, the placing judges saw that Sexy Back was able to hit the wire first by the absolute slimmest of margins and claim the biggest victory of his career!  Quiet Return gave heart and soul, but just missed by a whisker, taking the second spot.  A half length back, Hiei closed well to be third, then a head to jacks Courage in fourth.  Gorogue Laga was fifth, Individuation sixth, a nose back to Ey Mon in seventh, Spankersville eighth, Wahpekute Sioux ninth, Eight West Party tenth, Home Spirit eleventh, Lets Celebrate twelfth, Crack Dab thirteenth and Smoking Makes You Il was fourteenth.    

Please find the full chart in a separate article.  Congrats to owner/breeder Night Rider Stables and Sexy Back, your 2023 BC Classic winner! 

$2 Mutuel Prices:
 

Track: Fast           Time: :47¹  1:11¹  1:35³  2:00²
$1 Exacta: 10 – 8 Paid 169.00           $1 Trifecta: 10 – 8 – 1 Paid 1,547.80
Scratched: All Take, Ten Nations

https://simracingform.com/2023/11/05/night-rider-stables-brings-sexy-back-takes-bc-classic-in-instant-classic-photo-finish/amp/

Categories: BC 2021-2023