The Fox (Grade 3)- $125.000 Purse
GP- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
One Mile on the Inner Turf
February 27, 2021

Quest For Fame was cutting back on her distance for the Grade 3 Fox, as the five year old mare who had recently been a regular at a mile and a half was hoping that this could get her back to the winners circle. Many believed in her, as she would be named the post-time favorite, but was not among our picks. We went with The Belle Tolls, who ended up going off at 30/1, and she would finish second. Quest For Fame, however, would run this race differently than normal, going out on the lead, and that seemed like a good strategy for her. It would pay off for trainer Rheingold Stables, a winner of The Fox for the first time, as his mare wins by almost three lengths. Jockey E Jaramillo is also a first time winner. Congratulations to them! The time of the race was 1:33.02, tying for the second fastest in stake history. Let’s take a look!

(¼ Mile- :24.09)- The eventual race winner, Quest For Fame, wastes no time getting out to the lead for Rheingold Stables, and as they move into the first turn, that advantage is a length over a pretty tight pack. Right behind her, they are three across the track with Our Athletes’ Joan Of Arc a nose in front of The Belle Tolls, from Fractious; who is a nose in front of Apache Snow, out of Wood Duck Stables. Graceful American looks to take a fourth lane to the outside of them for Nakamura Stables. Behind them by a length, it is another four wide group. From inside to outside, it’s Certain Vessel (TwinTowersRacing), Kyanite (Smokey Stover), Puerto Princesa (Paradise Stable), and Call Sarah (First Street Stables); and T S Dancer (Triple K) is within a length of them. Suffice to say, it was close from position one to ten. Twizt And Shout (Whitewater Stables) wanted no part of it and was about four lengths behind all of them.

(½ Mile- :47.49)- It turns out Graceful American wanted to do a lot more than just join the group of stalkers behind Quest For Fame, as she aggressively shoots out to the front of the field, and goes up by about a length and a half before Quest For Fame gets a little bit of that gap back. Now, we started to see quite a bit of separation with the field, as these two lead third place Certain Vessel by about two lengths. That one continues to race with Apache Snow, The Belle Tolls, Joan Of Arc, and now Call Sarah. Further back, Kyanite, T S Dancer and Puerto Princesa are together while Twizt And Shout watches it unfold in front of her.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Graceful American led during the backstretch, but packed it in as soon as they hit the top of the turn. Quest For Fame soared out to the front, and almost immediately had a two and a half length lead as Graceful American backpedaled into the five wide group that had been just off the lead. The Belle Tolls was first of that group, but everyone had a lot of work to do if they were going to catch Quest For Fame. Given that she was used to running a lot longer, it didn’t seem likely that she was about to tire out now!

(Finish- 1:33.02)- Quest For Fame is simply unchallenged in the stretch. Her big lead that she built in the turn would not be reduced, and if anything, she extended it further. It was a great looking win for this filly, and it certainly did look like she could keep on running if it were a longer race. The Belle Tolls is second best, but never got near the winner. Joan Of Arc and Call Sarah are able to cash a check out of this, so their trainers will be somewhat happy. Rounding out the order, it is Certain Vessel, T S Dancer, Graceful American, Kyanite, Puerto Princesa, Apache Snow, and Twizt And Shout.

About The Winner- Quest For Fame, trained by Rheingold Stables and ridden to victory by E Jaramillo, is a five year old mare by Arundel, and is out of Isle Of Wight. She was bred in California by Rheingold Stables as a first quarter two year old and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her 8th in 20 starts, and her third stake win, two of which are graded. Her career earnings are now $324.620.

Track: Firm
Time: :24   :47²  1:10   1:33

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 6 Paid 100.80
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 6 – 8 Paid 1,266.40

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES