Eight Belles (G3)- $200.000 Purse
CD- For Fillies Three Years Old
Seven Furlongs on The Dirt
May 1, 2015

The Eight Belles was expected to be a wide open race where you could see the winner coming from just about any post, and the race would live up to its expectation.  Sometimes in a race like this, a nice clear trip will make all the difference.    Plucky Biscayne got such a trip, and she earns her trainer, Red Square Stables, their second career graded stake victory.  Helping the trainer was the Eight Belles expertise of jockey R J Albarado, won this stake for the third time in his career.  In a race where the trip made the difference, Albarado deserves his props.  The race was won in 1:21.99, which is a stake record for the years in which the race was run at exactly seven furlongs, which would be from 2011 forward.  Congratulations to all of the connections for our winner!

1st- 6- Plucky Biscayne (6/1)- R J Albarado had his filly good out of the gate, and was able to quickly bring her over to the rail and assume an early third place position just a couple lengths off the lead.   Maintained enough of a distance behind Eva The Diva to not find herself in a position to get possibly boxed in during the turn in another show of good riding.   On exit of the turn, Plucky Biscayne responded strongly to her jockey’s urging and smoothly advanced along the rail.  With her nemesis Shakira weaving through traffic and bearing down on her, as well as Hot Trick matching her stride, Albarado rode his filly hard all the way to the wire.  On this day, Plucky Biscayne can finally turn the tables on Shakira, and gets the big win.  The smooth trip went a long way.  Congrats again to all of the connections!

2nd (dh)- 5- Shakira (9/2)- M Smith may find himself needing to answer some tough questions.  Shakira found herself behind a three wide group of Lass of Nebraska, Hot Trick, and Danzing Logic and was boxed in by them for a little while.   While it looked like there was a much better opportunity along the rail in following Plucky Biscayne, M Smith oddly became more interested in trying to split horses.  Eventually she got by Lass Of Nebraska, but had to settle for following Hot Trick for too long before she could try and make a pass on the horse she would end up dead heating with.  She was full of run in the stretch, once she eventually did have room to run.  Would not be surprised if trainer Alydar Stables had some words with Smith back in the paddock as to why he didn’t just follow Plucky Biscayne when he could.

2nd (dh)- 3- Hot Trick (5/1)- In the middle of a three wide grouping towards the middle of the back, but was fortunate enough to have a clear lane in front of her.  The Wynnewood entry looked very strong just prior to the turn, advancing her position to be just a few lengths back.  Ran strong in the stretch, and seemed as though she could match Plucky Biscayne’s stride to the end, but she seemed to be drifting a little bit at the same time, and while that probably didn’t cost her the win, it did cost her second outright.

4th- 9- Eva The Diva (12/1)- Started sharply for Hawaiian Shirt Guy, assuming a stalking position behind Chocolatini, approximately a length back.  Maintained this distance over the course of the backstretch run, and during the turn.  Eventually was able to get by Chocolatini in the stretch, but that is when the hoofsteps from behind starting bearing down on her.  All in all, this is not a bad result for her.

5th- 10- Chocolatini (4/1)- The surprising raceday favorite, the Chili King Stables entry was sharp from the outside gate, much as was expected.  Set the opening quarter in :22.53, and half in :45.43.  Fought in the stretch to try and make it work, but she could not quite match the kick of her rivals.  In retrospect though, I don’t think this post was ever a hindrance to her, she ran well.

6th- 4- Danzing Logic (23/1)- The outside horse of a three wide grouping towards the back of the pack at the start for Riggins Racing.  Exiting the turn, it looked as though she was going to make a  nice run, but having to be about six wide to do so proved to be a little too much.  She also needed those in front of her to not remain full of run in the stretch.

7th- 2- Amazing Discovery (5/1)- The Mb Stables trained entry brought up the rear of the pack at the beginning.   She would not justify our making her our pick as she was content to ride in the back for most of the way, and while she got a little closer, she never threatened to get in the money.  I would be surprised to see her at anything under a mile after this.

8th- 7- Pink Cajun Panther (6/1)- Got off to a pretty good start for Sanny Village, sitting just off the lead to the outside of the eventual race winner.   About midway into the turn though, the Panther decided that she had enough, and packed it in.

9th- 1- Lass of Nebraska (16/1)- Towards the back early for D J C Racing Stables, and traffic was looking tough for jockey J Velazquez to have to maneuver.  Maintained this position throughout much of the race, and did not have any stretch response.  Velazquez sees his modest winning streak in this race come to an end.

10th- 8- Princess O Princess (63/1)- Midpack early for Oval Express Farms, just to the outside of Pink Cajun Panther.  Hung in there for a while, but once they hit the top of the stretch, the Princess had nothing for any of her rivals.

Track: Fast
Time: :22²  :45²  1:09²  1:21⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 6 – 3 Paid 23.70, 6 – 5 Paid 14.60
$1 Trifecta: 6 – 3 – 5 Paid 50.10, 6 – 5 – 3 Paid 50.10

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III