Taking quick aim at the Graded level company, trainer Team 7 Illusions took his thirty dollar claimer right to the winner’s circle in first asking, and tripled up on his recent investment. This was the first of two Graded events he would win here at Churchill on Saturday.
- Regret Grade III – Purse $150.000
- Churchill Downs – For Three year old Fillies
- Mile and One Eighth- Turf Course
- June 15th, 2019
Coming off of her maiden victory up at Woodbine back in April, Conviction showed all the true talents of a champion, as she would charge on late between runners to win by a length.
While one of the other grays in this race Low Key Desires ( Aer Stables ) would jump out to the early lead with an opening half mile in 47.36, Beschizza was content on holding Conviction just off the pace in third, three lengths back. Low Key Desires would continue to maintain the lead into the far turn, with Na Pali ( Smokey Stover ) nipping at her tail just a length shy. Conviction was starting to place herself in position for the turn for home, while Heavenly Love ( D J C Racing Stables ), Tightrope Walker ( Diablo Diablo ), and Magne Bay ( Gdp Inc ) were trying to make up ground.
Down the lane with the three quarters in the books in 1:10.62, and Low Key Desires was tight to the rail and still on top. Na Pali had drifted to the center of the track, leaving an Express lane for Conviction to charge to the front. With a little better then a sixteenth of a mile to run, the Team 7 Illusions entry would get a head in front and get to the wire in a final time of 1:46.08. Tightrope Walker stayed right behind her with her late effort to get up and capture the runner-up placing, while Low Key Desires and Na Pali would end in a dead heat photo for the final shares of the purse money. Magne Bay was in full stride as well in the late going, passing just Heavenly Love for the fifth position.
I managed to get a word in with Conviction’s trainer following the race. So were you amazed with the outcome of this event i asked. ” She was worth her price just because of her breeding,” Team 7 told me. ” I tossed her in the deep end off a ten furlong work on the farm,” he added, ” Nancy Broom Moytoy was very similar with eight tries to break her maiden, then she came alive!” An impressive first start victory for her new interests, and congratulations to her trainer for the vision to bring her here.
Being all full of run late, Tightrope Walker made a true effort to try to find the wire first, but would settle on the place purse. The 12-1 race time odds helped to complete an exacta payout of 85.800 for its backers, and it seems she has a preference for the turf. Maybe be a slightly longer event next time out will allow her to show her talents.
A photo finish placed both Low Key Desires and Na Pali in third when all was said and done. Low Key Desires pretty well ran the same pace she did in the Nassau, but was unable to see it through the whole distance. Na Pali was trying to get back to her winning ways after a bad finish over a soft turf last time. Not sure if the add of blinkers helped, or would she have been more responsive with traffic if she could see them. Trainer will decide.
Duffer
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
