Las Cienegas Stakes- Grade III
SA Race 5 6.5 Furlongs Turf
Purse $100.000 For Fillies & Mares
Four Year Olds and Upward
1st Pharos Lighthouse, trained by Axeman
Broke well and established perfect position sitting third about three lengths off the leader. Maintained that spot around the turn and moved up to challenge the leader at the top of the stretch. Took a short lead with a furlong to go and was able to keep that small margin until the finish.
2nd Spirits Feronia, trained by Straight Arrow
Took command early and opened a two-length lead. Set reasonable fractions through the half mile while keeping her advantage. Was challenged for the lead with a furlong to go, fought gamely to the wire but was beaten by a nose.
3rd Blame the Grey, trained by Mb Stables
Raced on the rail two lengths from the lead through the first half mile. As the eventual winner began her move she angled off the rail but was not able to match that one’s speed. Stayed one length off the two leaders for the length of the stretch and dead heated for the show.
3rd Zigety, trained by Langley Farms
Raced three wide the whole way and was sitting just outside of Pharos Lighthouse. Coming into the stretch she moved into the four path and looked poised to make a run. Was unable to make up ground on the top two but did manage to catch Blame the Grey to dead heat for the show.
Summary
Race went pretty much as expected from the preview except that Spirits Feronia made the HRP mistake of going to the front. The top two seem to be very evenly matched so post position and trip will generally make the difference when they meet again. Blame the Grey maintained her consistent record of finishing in the money and within a length of the winner.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
