Starlet (Grade 1) (KYO)- $300.000 Purse
LA- For Fillies Two Years Old
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
December 7, 2019
These are the times that I wish the game had historical statistics in a manner that was easy to retrieve. After winning the Grade 1 Starlet, Relax is not just off to a good start for her career, she is off to something that may be very special. She came into this race winning her first six starts, including the BC Juvenile Fillies, but it’s not just that. This is, already, her fourth Grade 1 victory. The KYO is a race that Mb Stables has never won. There are not many races that he has not been to winners circle after, but that may be the biggest one, depending on where he would personally rank that with a couple of BC titles still eluding him. There is still plenty of racing to go before the KYO, and the second place runner here, The Belle Tolls, also looks like quite a filly. A few years ago, the rivalry between Wicked Heat and Notarized Kate really got my attention, and we could be having a great rivalry brewing here. And that’s what HRP needs. We need two horses like this to be elite in the division and go at one another and to do so frequently. For now though, the bell tolls for Relax. This is the fourth win for Mb Stables in the Starlet, all coming in the last five years. P Lopez is a first time winning jockey for the race. The time of the win was 1:41.89, the second fastest in the stakes’ history. That was Snow Peak, another fast Mb starter, but the trainer can relax because Relax is much, much better conformed. Here’s a look at the race!
(1/4 Mile- :23.87)- The Belle Tolls breaks quickly out of the starting gate for Allinthegate, and takes an early length and a half lead as they move around the opening turn. Running in the second position is Relax, stalking her rival for Mb Stables. Lil Baby Bomber runs third on the outside, looking to score another big win on the day for Aer Stables. Next are Mad Mistress (Jokerjoes) and Chance Of A Lifetime (Fractious), and they only trail by three. One more length to the trailers, Sunlite (Rampage Stable) and Rebel Genie (Tiratzo).
(½ Mile- :47.64)- At the front, The Belle Tolls continues to maintained the same pace, and leads the field by two lengths, looking comfortable in the process. Relax is not worried by the lead of her rivals, and remains on the rail with that two length gap between them. Lil Baby Bomber is trying to stay with her for third, but is starting to fall into the clutches of Sunlite and Chance Of A Lifetime. At the back, Mad Mistress and Rebel Genie have five lengths to make up.
(Top Of Stretch, 2F To Go)- It’s looking like a two horse race might be shaping up. The Belle Tolls is not letting up, handling the turn very well, and still holding a good lead, just a little less then two lengths now. Relax is putting away the rest of the field, as there are two lengths between her and the third place Lil Baby Bomber, but she still has to be able to catch her rival here in the stretch. Further back, Rebel Genie looked to make an outside move, and there was room to run on the rail for Mad Mistress.
(Finish- 1:41.89)- Relax’s pass of The Belle Tolls would not be described as overpowering. In fact, it was a calculated move, gaining just enough ground with every stride, and having the time to get up in front just prior to hitting the wire. That is what a horse that knows how to win does, and Relax is showing signs of being truly special, as if we needed another example. The Belle Tolls is second, possibly tiring in the final moments. Mad Mistress made the most of that opening on the rail and nearly stole second away late. Lil Baby Bomber is the best of the rest for fourth, defeating Chance Of A Lifetime, Sunlite, and Rebel Genie.
About The Winner- Relax, trained by Mb Stables and ridden to victory by P Lopez, is a two year old filly by Calm Command, and is out of Copacetic. She was bred in California as a yearling by Mb Stables, the only trainer she has ever known! Congratulations to the connections! She is a perfect 7-for-7 in her career, with four Grade 1’s. She has already won $1,959.000.
| ## | Horse Name | Owner Name | Jockey | Odds | Fin | Time | SRF | |||
|
Relax | Mb Stables | Lopez P | 1.80 | 1nk | 1:41.89 | ||||
|
The Belle Tolls | Allinthegate | Pennington F | 5.95 | 21/2 | 1:41.95 | ||||
|
Mad Mistress | Jokerjoes | Santana R Jr | 5.30 | 32 | 1:42.09 | ||||
|
Lil Baby Bomber | Aer Stables | Wilson E J | 18.70 | 43/4 | 1:42.53 | ||||
|
Chance Of A Lifetime | Fractious | Talamo J | 6.35 | 53/4 | 1:42.71 | ||||
|
Sunlite | Rampage Stable | Rosario J | 3.25 | 6 | 1:42.88 | ||||
|
Rebel Genie | Tiratzo | Hernandez J J | 8.80 | 6 | 1:42.88 |
Track: Fast
Time: :234 :473 1:11 1:414
$2 Mutuel Prices:
| 1 – Relax | 5.60 | 3.40 | 2.50 |
| 6 – The Belle Tolls | 5.90 | 3.50 | |
| 2 – Mad Mistress | 3.30 |
$1 Exacta: 1 – 6 Paid 20.20
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 6 – 2 Paid 47.90
Scratched: Precise Performance
Winner Picked By NS
— NS
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
