The Iroquois- $125.000 Purse
BEL- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward Foaled In NY
Six and a Half Furlongs on the Dirt
October 24, 2020

Following the Hudson at BEL, the ladies got their chance to go six and a half furlongs on the main track. This was another race that seemed evenly matched, but this time the winners share of the purse would not have to be evenly split. After seeing his entry not fare well in the Hudson, John Henry had a much better time in the Iroquois as Queen Of Navarre picked up the win, which was his first in the race. Jockey D Davis rode his second straight winner, and for him it is his first such win as well. The time of the race was 1:15.66, a little slower than last year’s, but all that was needed. Let’s take a look!

(¼ Mile- :22.91)- The three outside horses fight for the early lead, but emerging with it after a quarter mile is Girls Night, from D J C Racing Stables, and she ultimately takes a lead by nearly a length prior to the turn. To her inside, and not letting her get all the way to the rail are both Time To Dance, from La Canada Racehorses, and our eventual winner, Queen Of Navarre, from John Henry. It’s another length and a half to Immortal Steel (Wolf Ridge Stables), and Perfection Only (TwinTowersRacing), and at the back, the rough day for our pick and post time favorite, Slytherin (Arindel) would begin.

(½ Mile- :45.73, Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- The leader, Girls Night, is eventually able to move over somewhat, but never moves all the way to the rail, allowing a nice lane for Time To Dance to have if she was able to take it. To her outside, Queen Of Navarre continued to stalk her by a length, and was waiting for her time to strike. Early in the stretch, she was getting ready to make that run. None of the other three were making an impact as of yet.

(Finish- 1:15.66)- Queen Of Navarre pulls up alongside Girls Night early in the stretch, but Girls Night is not going to go down without a fight. That effort was admirable, but she would not be able to hold off Queen Of Navarre, who is able to pick up the win by a neck. Girls Night is second, over Time To Dance, who barely held on for third. We get a dead heat for money here as well, as Immortal Steel and Perfection Only will split the fourth place purse, leaving Slytherin as the only horse in the field not to get a little something.

About The Winner- Queen Of Navarre, trained by John Henry, and ridden to victory by D Davis, is a four year old filly by Mordred, and is out of Strategy. She was bred as a third quarter two year old by Night Mare Racing in New York, and acquired by John Henry, via Blushing Meadows, in an August 2019 private sale for $50.000. The win is her fifth in 17 starts, and it is her first stake win. Congratulations to the connections! Her career earnings are now $224.900.

Track: Fast
Time: :22⁴  :45³  1:09²  1:15³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 5 – 6 Paid 14.10
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 6 – 4 Paid 1,466.20

— NS

Scratched: None

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded