Royal North Stakes (Grade 2)- $175.000 Purse
WO- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
Six Furlongs on the Turf
July 18, 2020
The Royal North seemed as though it would be a good race for Mb Stables, and it would be. In fact, the only thing slightly flawed about it was the winner, and there would be no repercussions here for his three entries. Slightly Flawed appeared to be one of the ones to beat in the race, and in the end, no one would beat her at all. Taking the other two spots on the board would be Repercussions and Twisted Minds, each of whom are also saddled by Mb Stables. A perfect, 1-2-3 sweep for the trainer in what is his first win in the stake. Aboard the winner would be S R Bahen, and it is also his first win. Congratulations to them! The time of the victory was 1:08.31, the second quickest in the history of the race and just .01 off the stake record, set last year. Let’s take a look!
(1/4 Mile- :22.66)- A few of them start well, but as the run towards the turn begins, it would be Lorraine, from Mo Mentum Farm, taking the early lead of the race and pulling out to a lead of a length. Kalishian broke well for Night Rider Stables from her outside post, and looked like she might be the frontrunner, but instead, she settled for second. This was not ideal, because it meant she was about five heading into the turn as she could never clear the third place, High Voltage-trained, Gummy. A length behind them, they are three wide for the fourth spot. From inside to outside, this is Lillehammer (Invicta Group Llc), Repercussions (Mb Stables), and our eventual race winner, Slightly Flawed, also out of Mb Stables. After about another length and a half, there is another three wide group, consisting of Trippi Sprinkle (Gdp Inc), Abby G (High Voltage), and Twisted Minds (Mb Stables). Trailing is Motor City Poet (Threshold), six lengths from the lead.
(½ Mile- :45.26, Top of Stretch)- The top two spots still belong to Lorraine and Kalishian, but that appears to be about to change in a big way once they run in the stretch. Lorraine kept her good run going on the rail for now, while Kalishian never would get a better inner lane for the turn. There was a lot of room between them for horses to utilize, and the three who had been stalking were all looking poised to take advantage. Repercussions, for now, looked a little better then her stablemate, Slighty Flawed, but both of them were now within a length and a half. Lillehammer was still able to keep pace. Gummy was retreating, and there was not much room behind them for horses to come through. Trippi Sprinkle hoped to follow Repercussions while Twisted Minds looked for an outside lane. Abby G was somewhat boxed in here, and Motor City Poet was lacking response.
(Finish- 1:08.31)- Repercussions leads the charge initially in the stretch, and is bringing both Slightly Flawed and Lillehammer with her. Soon enough, Lillehammer is unable to keep up with them, and Slightly Flawed emerges as being just a little bit better. Mb Stables may have got concerned for a moment seeing another horse make a late bid, but then could sit back and relax in realization that he owns that one, Twisted Minds, as well. At the end, it is a 1-2-3 finish for Mb with Slightly Flawed topping Repercussions and Twisted Minds. Trippi Sprinkle made a strong bid, but ran out of time and settles for the fourth place check. Lorraine holds fifth over Lillehammer. The rest of the order is Abby G, Gummy, Kalishian, and Motor City Poet.
About The Winner- Slightly Flawed, trained by Mb Stables, and ridden to victory by S R Bahen. She was bred by Mb Stables in Florida as a second quarter two year old, and is by Southern Style and out of Make No Mistake. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her sixth in 8 starts, and her fifth in a row. It is her fourth stake win, and first graded win. Her career earnings are now $321.000.
Track: Firm
Time: :223 :451 :564 1:081
$2 Mutuel Prices:
$1 Exacta: 4 – 2 Paid 20.60
$1 Trifecta: 4 – 2 – 9 Paid 73.80
Scratched: None
— NS
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
