The Empire Distaff- $250.000 Purse
BEL- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward Foaled in NY
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
October 20, 2018
Pumpernickel Basil has had a successful career, but you could fairly say that she had not had her signature victory quite yet. Despite several races at the stake level, and even once being entered in the Grade 1 Acorn, Pumpernickel Basil had not won anything more then an allowance. She’s always competitive, so she seemed as though she would be a threat here, but not be the top choice, and the bettors seemed to agree. In the end, this filly finally picks up that stake win! Trainer D J C Racing Stables wins the stake for the first time, as this was only the fourth time it appeared on the card. Jockey A A Gallardo is also a first time winner. Congratulations to them! The time of victory was 1:41.75, making it the fastest running of the stake thus far. Let’s take a closer look!
(1/4 Mile- :22.81)- Smile In Victory was off and running right out of the gate for trainer Team 7 Illusions, but had no one to chase her. After a quick quarter mile, she had a three length advantage over Chase, from Smokey Stover, but she was not chasing, and just minding her own business. There was a gap of another four lengths to pretty much the rest of the field. The eventual winner, D J C Racing Stables’ Pumpernickel Basil was on the inside of three wide. To her outside was Too Much Wisdom (Mb Stables) and Smoothie (Team 7 Illusions). Another length back to the trailer, Takeover, part of the Team 7 Illusions threesome.
(½ Mile- :46.14)- Down the backstretch, it’s all still about Smile In Victory, who maintained her three length advantage, with no pressure. She did slow down the pace a tad, but the second place runner, which was still Chase, remained concerned with her own race. The gap between second and third started to shrink just a little bit when Smoothie made a minor advance, but did pull ahead of those she had been running with, and Takeover was looking to take that lane. The two that were minding their own business in the midst of all this were Pumpernickel Basil and Too Much Wisdom, and perhaps its not a surprise that they ended up in the top two spots. They each trailed by seven at the top of the turn.
(Top Of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- As we make our way around the turn, Smile In Victory is trying to do all that she can to remain in the lead. Midway through, she starts to drift, and that is when we begin to see the rest of the field make significant progress on her. Chase remained patient, and was able to utilize the rail throughout the turn and just about pulled even for the lead at the top of the stretch. Meanwhile, both Pumpernickel Basil and Too Much Wisdom seemed to make their push forward at the same time, and also made up a lot of ground. Perhaps more importantly then their gap to Smile In Victory, they were now within a length and a half of Chase. Smoothie, who seemed like she was going to move forward, never did, nor would Takeover.
(Finish- 1:41.75)- Both Pumpernickel Basil and Too Much Wisdom split Chase and Smile In Victory rather easily, and put them away. Chase did not put up as much of a fight here as we may have expected her too. Now, the race was clearly coming down to Pumpernickel Basil, who was always a head in front, and Too Much Wisdom. They battled hard, but Pumpernickel Basil was not going to be denied in this one. Too Much Wisdom is a game second, while Chase is two lengths back in third. Team 7 Illusions takes the bottom three spots with Smoothie, Smile In Victory, and Takeover.
About The Winner- Pumpernickel Basil, trained by D J C Racing Stables, and ridden to victory by A A Gallardo, is a three year old filly by Hannibal Lecter, and is out of Catch My Drift. She was bred in New York as a second quarter two year old by D J C Racing Stables, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her fourth in 14 starts, and her first stake win. Her career earnings are now $321.800.
| ## | Horse Name | Owner Name | Jockey | Odds | Fin | Time | SRF | |||
|
Pumpernickel Basil | D J C Racing Stables | Gallardo A A | 4.10 | 11/2 | 1:41.75 | ||||
|
Too Much Wisdom | Mb Stables | Bravo J | 2.40 | 21 | 1:41.89 | ||||
|
Chase | Smokey Stover | Alvarado J | 2.90 | 31 | 1:42.22 | ||||
|
Smoothie | Team 7 Illusions | Gutierrez Mario | 82.55 | 42 | 1:42.56 | ||||
|
Smile In Victory | Team 7 Illusions | Cancel E | 6.20 | 51 | 1:43.04 | ||||
|
Takeover | Team 7 Illusions | Talamo J | 2.50 | 6 | 1:43.32 |
Track: Fast
Time: :224 :46 1:101 1:413
$2 Mutuel Prices:
| 1 – Pumpernickel Basil | 10.20 | 4.80 | 2.70 |
| 2 – Too Much Wisdom | 3.70 | 2.50 | |
| 6 – Chase | 2.50 |
$1 Exacta: 1 – 2 Paid 16.80
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 2 – 6 Paid 49.30
Scratched: None
— NS
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
