11/5/22

  11  KEE       BC Fillies & Mares Turf (GI)

     $2,000.000   3YO&UP F&M         1 3/16m Turf      3YO 121lbs  Older 124lbs 

I started to re-pick BC F&M Turf (GI), seeing that the turf turned up Good vs. Firm, and I wish I had.  In the end, Perfect Class delivered a commanding performance and the first BC victory for Sccj Stables, as the 3yo gray filly let the field go for the firs mile or so, then turned it on in a big way to get home first by two lengths in a final time of 1:54.06, and securing herself as one of the most proficient grass fillies, ever – now showing nine wins and a second from ten turf starts.  This was her fifth win in a row and she should be looked at when talking about HotY honors.  La Terrifiant, making her sixth BC start (never worse than fourth, which is just remarkable) headed out Perfectly Pink for the place, but they were of no threat to the winner.  Proud Eights was three-quarters of a length back in fourth.  

The field loaded into the gate in one of the most odd placements I’ve ever seen, and away as they all made a hard left in comical fashion, and Maggie Greene had the early lead with Marner in her shadow, Coconut Milk and Number Nine giving chase, Directors Chair, La Terrifiant, then Proud Eights from the far outside and Always Condotteri.  Perfect Class was next, All By Myself on her outside Stellar Agent on the rail, then Perfectly Pink, Ewa Beach on her flank and Versailles was the early trailer.

Around the far turn and onto the back stretch, five and a half furlongs to run, Maggie Greene showing the way, Marner not letting her get away, Number Nine giving chase with Coconut Milk caught three wide.  Down to the rail for Directors Chair, then a gap to La Terrifiant, Proud Eights caught very wide, Always Condottieri, down to the rail for Stellar Agent.  Another gap to Perfect Class between All By Myself and Versailles, another length to Ewa Beach and Perfectly Pink was now the back marker.

They made their way down the backside and moving into the far turn with three furlongs to travel, Maggie Greene now opening up a clear advantage on the field.  Marner still second but headed in the wrong directions, Number Nine on her flank, a gap to Coconut Milk, Proud Eights, La Terrifiant, and Always Condotteri out wide as if to give tiring rivals some place to go, Directors Chair on the rail and prone to the tiring speed, Perfect Class moving wide looking for running room with All By Myself, then down to the rail for Stellar Agent, another gap to Versailles, Perfectly Pink and Ewa Beach was the trailer.

Moving around the far turn and to the top of the lane, they flew past the three sixteenths marker and Maggie Greene still showing the way, but she now had a wall of horseflesh headed her way as the closers fanned out for the drive… Proud Eights, Perfect Class and La Terrifiant in that closing group, Marner losing position, Always Condottieri trying to find more, with Number Nine to her inside.  Coconut Milk, Perfectly Pink and All By Myself feeling the sting of the whip, and Directors Chair, Versailles, Ewa Beach and Stellar Agent had a lot of work to do and not much time to get it done.

Inside the final furlong and to the finish, this one was about to go a whole different way as Maggie Greene had done all of the heavy lifting, but the great turf mare could not hold them off on this afternoon and Perfect Class went by in the gray blur that she is… La Terrifiant in tow with that one and the battle for the minor placings was the only question because the answer was Perfect Class, and the answer had an exclamation point with it!  Perfect Class just flew home, opening up to win in dominant fashion.   La Terrifiant gave her all, and was able to hold off the late charge of Perfectly in Pink, second and third respectively.  It was another three-quarters of a length to Proud eights in fourth, Always Condotteri in fifth, Maggie Greene tiring late to be sixth, All By Myself seventh, Ewa Beach making a late move to be eighth, as did Versailles in ninth.  Mamer tiring to be tenth, Number nine eleventh, Coconut Milk twelfth, Stellar Agent thirteenth and Directors Chair closed this one out. 

Perfect Class is a gray 3yo filly by Asset Class – Rosemari Perfect, by Mist Perfect Energy, and she was bred by her owner in Cal.  As previously mentioned, she now has nine wins from twelve starts, all of those wins on the lawn, this was her fifth win in a row, all graded races… you can just go on and on with the accolades… lifetime earnings of $3,011.240, $2,840.000 coming this season… I’ll say again, if she’s not in the HotY conversation, then something is amiss.  Congrats to the Connections!      

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Good         Time: :47   1:10³  1:35²  1:54
$1 Exacta: 7 – 10 Paid 33.50      $1 Trifecta: 7 – 10 – 4 Paid 330.40
Scratched: Common Misconception, Demanding Commander, Mon Dieu, Shining Moments

Categories: BC 2021-2023, Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES, THE BREEDERS CUP