The Hurricane Bertie (Grade 3)- $125.000 Purse
GP- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
Six and a Half Furlongs on the Dirt
March 9, 2024

Parade Leader was a horse needing a big race. Last month in the Santa Monica she was ineffective and had not won a race since last July when she took home the win in the Grade 3 Victory Ride. In that, she was what her name says: a parade leader. The Hurricane Bertie was a chance for her to get out on the lead again, something that she had only done once since July, despite having success with the tactic. She certainly appeared comfortable, and the 16/1 longshot would go on to win by a length! The four-year-old filly is trained by Fractious and had Jo Ruiz in the saddle. For each, it is their first win in the Hurricane Bertie. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:15.40, which is a middle of the road such time for this race. Let’s take a look at it:

(1/4 Mile- :22.27)- Up front, it is Parade Leader for Fractious, and she pulls out to a length lead over the rest of the competition. She has a familiar face right behind her, as stablemate Striding Edge is second, and that one is also clear by a length to the third-place runner. That’s where we find the Ace Racing Stable filly, Rainy Bronze Party, who is also a length ahead of Sexy Angelina (Night Rider Stables) and Sigatoka (Bears Stable), with Lady Sammyantha (The Sidley Stud) between horses and within a length. Texas Holdem (D J C Racing Stables) and Majestic Chai (TwinTowersRacing) are next with She Is Quick (Maxmillion Farm) running five wide. At the back is Sin City Blossom (El Jamsha Racing).

(½ Mile- :45.33, Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Parade Leader is looking very comfortable and at home while being the parade leader of the race, cruising around the turn and even extending her lead to a full two lengths. Her stablemate, Striding Edge, is not able to keep up and is now running evenly with Rainy Bronze Party. Sexy Angelina looks like the best of those that are in the pack while going around the turn, but Sigatoka and Lady Sammyantha were not going anywhere, and Texas Holdem may have just been waiting for his time to make a move. Majestic Chai, She Is Quick, and Sin City Blossom needed to get going.

(Finish- 1:15.40)- Parade Leader would not let up at all in the stretch, maintaining her stride all the way to the wire to win by a length. The only reason that was not more is because Rainy Bronze Party also ran evenly with her in the wire, but never actually made up any ground. Texas Holdem showed too little too late for a win, but her late moves did get her third over Striding Edge and Sikatoka. Lady Sammyantha was a very disappointing strong favorite and gets the sixth spot, over Majestic Chai, Sexy Angelina, Sin City Blossom, and She Is Quick.

About The Winner- Parade Leader, trained by Fractious and ridden to victory by Jo Ruiz, is a four-year-old filly by Residue and is out Bellisima. She was bred as a yearling in California by Fractious, the only trainer for which she has ever known. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her sixth in 21 starts, her third stake win and second graded win. Her career earnings are now $584.610.

Track: Fast
Time: :22¹  :45¹  1:09¹  1:15²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 5 – 2 Paid 667.00
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 2 – 6 Paid 1,057.50

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES