November 11 2015
There are not many races over 12-furlongs that end with a finish like the Long Island Handicap and after more than 2:25 minutes, nothing could separate Copper Piping and Whiskey Wings on the wire and both ended up with victory in this Grade III event over the AQU turf. 98-speed ratings and an even split of the top two prizes in this $200.000 race were good enough for owners Diablo Diablo and Team 7 Illusions and while the former was winning her first added-money event, the latter was building on a Grade I win at WO that will set her up nicely to tackle the best of her division as an older filly.
Three turns and 12-furlongs over the AQU turf is a daunting task but Risen Queen (5.40) took right to it in the Long Island and moved to the early lead before Golden Broomstick (8.50) came outside of her to establish the first advantage. Tiz Flirt (4.55) broke well but dropped back to fourth early as Whiskey Wings (*1.65) moved up between rivals while Copper Piping (1.75) fell off the early pace from her inside stall. As the field moved in front of the stands for the first time, through a half-mile in 49.01, Risen Queen was up to the task inside and took it to Golden Broomstick with Whiskey Wings waiting in the wings while third and past six-furlongs in 1:13.19, the pace was solid enough to ensure the closers a chance to move late. Into the backstretch for the second time, Golden Broomstick looked in tough while Whiskey Wings looked for a way through and when she found it, she moved forward to engage Risen Queen for the front with the onrushing Copper Piping closing along the fence. The favourite finally wrested the lead from her stubborn foe but a new challenger was emerging and with two-furlongs to go, it was up to Copper Piping to run down Whiskey Wings and her two-length headstart. The leader drifted into the five-wide path for the final furlong and looked resolute to the wire but with striking resolve, her adversary closed to her inside and as has been the case in many races recently, nothing could separate them at the end in a dead-heat win for both Whiskey Wings and Copper Piping. Risen Queen was four-lengths back of the winners in third, with Tiz Flirt two further back in fourth and Golden Broomstick last of five after pressing the early splits.
Whiskey Wings was a Grade I winner coming into the Long Island, while Copper Piping had been fifth, then third, then second in her last three starts, and both took home a top notch victory in the Long Island to prove they both can handle longer distances on the turf. It is a fitting end to a very good season in the F&M Turf division and both can take solace in the fact that they will be entering 2016 on the right track with budding career and sharp speed ratings to show for their success
Congratulations goes out to owners Diablo Diablo and Team 7 Illusions, and their co-winners of the Grade III Long Island Handicap in Copper Piping and Whiskey Wings!
Prediction Whiskey Wings / Tiz Flirt / Risen Queen
Winner Copper Piping
Four-year-old chestnut filly
Copper Bottom-Youngfreeandsingle (Singletary)
Whiskey Wings
Three-year-old black filly
Two Sevens-Havenly Bandit (Special Sailor)
Owners Diablo Diablo & Team 7 Illusions
Time 49.01, 1:13.19, 2:01.27, 2:25.55
Overall
Copper Piping (DH) 1.75 inside run, resolute late, caught winner
Whiskey Wings (DH) *1.65 pressed, clear in lane, missed
Risen Queen 5.40 set middle fractions, tired late
Tiz Flirt 4.55 no late pace threat
Golden Broomstick 8.50 speed early, faded
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
