May 19, 2015

A trio of Graded Stakes winners led the betting for the Grade III PIM Special on Friday afternoon and coming off a second in the Grade II CT Classic, and a second in this race last year, No Trippin was made the choice and did not disappoint with a determined nose win over multiple Grade II winner Duca Di Toscana and Grade I BEL runner-up Kavorka. A high profile claim for only $5.000 last season by top conditioner Mb Stables, he has turned into a superstar at the ripe of age of eight and now, sports four wins in five seasonal starts and earning of more than $800.000, plus a pair of top class wins that set him up for a huge Summer ahead.

Outside speed was the most prevalent at the start of the PIM Special with Fusaichi Seven (20.50) and Announcement (11.80) getting out to lead with Oher (10.20) hung wider than expected and Duca Di Toscana (4.30) trying to salvage a bit of placing from his good post. Fusaichi Seven was able to get down to the rail before Announcement sprinted up to take the lead three-wide and with Oher in between, those three lead the field into the first turn with the three-year-old Macht Nichts (7.10) leading up the chase outside of the favourites. Everyone found a comfortable spot heading into the backstretch past a solid half-mile in 47.76 and with Announcement 1.5-lengths in front, the key for many became the positioning with such a bulky field and such tight PIM turns. By the time Macht Nichts had moved into second with Foresight (13.80) tracking him, Announcement was almost three-lengths to the good but six-furlongs in a rapid 1:11.39 was more than he has been asked for in recent route starts and that started to take its toll as the experienced horses moved closer. Three-furlongs from the wire, it was still Announcement going straight and strong with Macht Nichts taking dead aim and Fusaichi Seven and Oher fading fast but at the top of the lane, the backfield started to rocket home, led by Kavorka (6.30) who sprung through between rivals with a determined thrust. The SA Handicap winner looked like the real thing with the jump on his rivals and as the leaders tried to hold on, six horses all had a chance to win and the inside track proved the best for No Trippin (*2.10), who got a dream trip inside. A runner-up in this race last year, he got the jump on Duca Di Toscana, who was forced into the eight-path, and in the shadow of the wire, was able to nose out the victory with Kavorka failing to sustain in his while third-best. Macht Nichts was fourth against older runners in a great effort while Foresight just missed a cheque in fifth but did beat his stablemate Announcement who failed to maintain his position late. Devilish Intentions (8.10) raced evenly in midpack throughout, Oher and Fusaichi Seven backed away and Lafferty (65.50) broke last and raced last from start to finish as the longest shot on the board.

On a track playing fast all afternoon, it took another track record for No Trippin to avenge his loss from the 2014 PIM Special and take down another Graded Stakes win over a pair of very well meant runners in Duca Di Toscana and Kavorka. All three could find themselves at CD for the Grade I Foster Handicap in a few weeks time, with different weights making things very interesting, but the horse to take away from Friday is Macht Nichts, who actually ran a faster final time that Grade I PRK winner A One and looks every bit the part of a horse who might make some major noise in the Grade I BEL three-weeks from now, for a much bigger purse.

Congratulations goes out to owner Mb Stables and their eight-year-old gelding No Trippin, a powerful off-the-pace winner of the Grade III PIM Special!

Prediction                      No Trippin / Duca Di Toscana / Devilish Intentions

Winner                          No Trippin

                                          Eight-year-old bay gelding

                                         Five Daddy Five-Smokin June (Second Of June)

Owner                            Mb Stables

Time                                47.76, 1:11.39, 1:35.70, 1:54.38 (NTR)

Overall

No Trippin                    *2.10 inside run, angled between rivals, driving

Duca Di Toscana        4.30 outside trip, eight-wide into lane, missed

Kavorka                          6.30 late thrust, outkicked by better runners

Macht Nichts                 7.10 stalked early, evened out in final furlong

Foresight                        13.80 tracked leaders throughout

Announcement             11.80 set good pace, weakened

Devilish Intentions     8.10 even effort

Oher                                 10.20 pressed between, faded

Fusaichi Seven              20.50 good early zip, no stamina

Lafferty                            65.50 outrun

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: Grade III