Purple Charger Opens Up And Hangs On To Win Alcibiades

By Nynl Stables on October 6, 2023

Alcibiades (Grade 1) (BC)- $600.000 Purse
KEE- For Fillies Two Years Old
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
October 6, 2023

In July, Fractious purchased Purple Charger for $550.000 a few weeks after winning the Astoria, and the investment is already paying off. The filly had look strong in her first two races for Fractious, winning the Schuylerville, but now a much greater purse would await her in the Alcibiades. She has not always looked to go out to the lead early, but the tactic work out to perfection here, as Purple Charger went wire to wire for the victory. More than likely, she was already going to be in the BC Juvenile Fillies, but now we can place her as one of the top contenders in that race at SA next month. This is the first win in the Alcibiades for both Fractious and trainer M Franco. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:41.88, and that is a new stake record, topping the only record by two tenths! Let’s take a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :22.80)- Our eventual winner, Purple Charger, does indeed charge out to the lead for Fractious, and after a quarter mile that advantage is a length over the second place Sitting Bulls Champ, from Mb Stables. Sitting just off the lead, we have License To Kill on the rail for Arkansas Elite with Diablo Diablo’s Lawbreaker right beside her. It’s another length to Jamaican Coffee (Night Rider Stables) and Children Of The Sod (Onlineracingclub.com), with Rubimaulu (Arindel) hoping to keep mom happy as she runs on the rail. Behind them, we have another group of three with Freed From Desire (The A Stable), Sitting Pretty (Arindel), and Gutter Black (Iolaus Racing). At the rear of the field, Awesome Angel (TwinTowersRacing) and Sled (Fractious) run together.

(1/2 Mile- :46.46)- Early on in the backstretch, Purple Charger looks comfortable at the front, as she continues to lead the way without anyone pressuring her right beside her. Sitting Bulls Champ was content to settle in right behind her, and third place License To Kill did the same to that one. Children Of The Sod moved up to fourth while running in the third lane and being a half length ahead of both Lawbreaker and Jamaican Coffee. Sitting Pretty and Rubimaulu ride it out in the middle of the field.

(Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Around the turn, and into the stretch, it was beginning to look like Purple Charger got away from the field. She would only open up her advantage, with now a two length lead on Sitting Bulls Champ, who was still running second. While that one had never put a move on the leader, her own advantage over all but Children Of The Sod remained constant, so she still seemed to be in good shape. As for Children Of The Sod, she was making slight progress around the turn, and about to pull even for second, but was not concerning Purple Charger, at least for the time being. License To Kill and Jamaican Coffee were in a decent spot if some frontrunners began to tire out. Rubimaulu stayed on the rail, but had not yet made a push. Sitting Pretty was making about a six wide move entering the stretch while Lawbreaker was lacking response. Freed From Desire had a lot of work to do, but seemed to have a clear lane if she had the ability to make a run.

(Finish- 1:41.88)- The big lead that Purple Charger had entering the stretch would be too much to overcome for everyone else. Children Of The Sod did make progress, but Purple Charger ran well enough all the wire to the wire to still be able to win the race by a length. Children Of The Sod, who we’ll mention equaled the old stake record time herself, was a clear second as it was about two lengths to third place Sitting Bulls Champ. That one narrowly held off Rubimaulu, who showed some good late kick. From there, we’re talking about horses who were beaten by the winner by a second. Rounding it out, it’s Sitting Pretty, Freed From Desire, Awesome Angel, Jamaican Coffee, License To Kill, Lawbreaker, Gutter Black, and Sled.

About The Winner- Purple Charger, trained by Fractious and ridden to victory by M Franco, is a two year old filly by Rumble and is out of Dodge Challenger. She was bred in Kentucky by Our Athletes as a first quarter two year old, and was acquired by Fractious in private sales for $550.000 in July. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her fourth in five starts, her third stake win and second graded win. Her career earnings are now $630.000.

Horse Name

Owner Name

Jockey

Odds

Fin

Time

SRF

Purple Charger

Fractious

Franco M

4.00

1¹