This race unfolded as usual on HRP, the horses who went to the front faded badly coming down the stretch, as we saw all at the back of the pack close for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. This storyline is about as frequent as the story of an out of luck fashion designer finding love in a rural mountain town on Christmas Eve on the Hallmark channel.

Oleg, our eventual winner, fell back into 8th place early and trailed by five lengths. He was followed by Accountant who was four off in 7th place, and Rowdy Rb in 6th place three lengths back from the lead. Golden Treasure settled into 5th by two lengths, and this pack of four would shuffle a tad bit going around the track, but in general held in the mid-pack to trailing position all around.

The rest of the field would go up near the front and set out pace. Tko would be on the lead early, pressed by Raunchy Bay around the early parts of the race. Indie Bread and Kinch were right behind and pushing quickly to keep up.

Beyond the midway point, Raunchy Bay took over the lead and we saw Tko begin to pay the price for an early lead, the way we usually do at HRP, and he faded to 3rd and was falling further.

Then, coming for home, we saw the back of the pack kick into gear and move past the front half. Turning the finishing order upside down from the order of most of the race. Golden Treasure and Rowdy Rb, stablemates owned by Mb Stables, moved nicely past the early leaders and were looking for the wire as quick as it could come.

But Oleg had more closing power than the rest of this field. About two and a half lengths off the lead with 1.4 furlongs left, and at the back of the pack, Oleg split Indie Bread and Tko for a powerful drive home. Eventually running dow Golden Treasure who had found the front and looked like he was heading for a win. But the wire came a split second too late for him and he surrendered his photo op in the winner’s circle to Oleg.

Golden Treasure and Rowdy Rb, stablemates, held on to second and third, as Accountant flattened out on his drive, settling for fourth.

Oleg is a colt by Soviet Sensation. Bred, owned, and trained by Arindel out of New York– this horse is now in the graded stakes winning club. Congratulations to the connections.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES