While 2019 was not the greatest of finishes for this then four year when he competed in this event placing sixth, coming to this affair this season, he was so much the champion. Its definite that the Gr. I SA Handicap had him ready and focused on the win.

• CT Classic ( Gr.II ) (P3) Purse $1,000.000
• Charles Town- For Four Years old and Up
• One Mile and One eighth in Distance- Main Track

In an event that saw a field so tightly bunched throughout most of the race, emerging late down the stretch to capture this title took all any of these runners could come up with to get to the front. Achilles ( Diablo Diablo ) would find an opening after the lead had changed hands a couple of times at the eighth pole, and go on to earned his fifth stakes title, and fourth Graded event. He won his second straight Gr.I SA Handicap back in early March. Add to that, this is his fourth 100+ SRF figure of his career, and the sky is the limit for his future.

After Market Value ( Nakamura Stables ) was able to finally get out and pass the inside runners heading down the front stretch for the first time, a band of some seven runners would all be stalking the leader some one to three lengths back, hoping to make a move when called upon. Entering the far turn after an opening three quarter time of 1:09 and three fifths, Tactical ( Mb Stables ) would break free to get a nose in front, dragging For The Boys ( D J C Racing Stables ) along to his inside as well. With just two furlongs to run at this point, the field was separated by just two and a half lengths from first to last. Achilles, who was enjoying the backend of this affair along with Serengeti Sands ( TwinTowersRacing) were now tightening the distance for the run for home.

Hitting the eighth pole in a time of 1:35.16, there were now four horses spread across the track for the lead. Tactical, Achilles, Instagooglefacetweet ( Threshold ) and For The Boys. Finally Achilles would separate from this group by the sixteenth pole and go on to a final time of 1:47.48. While it would not topple T S Indy’s record time of 1:46.49, it is now the second fastest time for this affair. It’s obvious that all those events going an eighth of a mile longer has allowed this five year old the ability to always have a little in the tank for the stretch kick. This would be Diablo Diablo’s first CT Classic victory.

Finally getting up late between runners for the place purse was Serengeti Sands with his late kick. While he hasn’t seen a victory since last June, he has been finishing in the top three in his past four starts, and going longer may just prove fruitful for him in the future. As for trainer TwinTowersRacing, he has finally hit the top three for this event in four tries. Congrats Tommy.

The show purse was picked up by Instagooglefacetweet who was let go at some 36-1 odds. While this one already has two Graded victories under his belt since joining Stu and his team, he maybe one we will need to keep a closer eye on this season. He helped to bring home a whopping $296.900 show payout for his backers.

Final share of the purse belonged to For The Boys.

Track: Fast
Time: :46  1:09³  1:35  1:47²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 9 – 3 Paid 68.50
$1 Trifecta: 9 – 3 – 4 Paid 1,440.80

Scratched: Unfold

Duffer

Added Note: Congrats go out to fellow writer T Boy Racing for capturing the two earlier stakes races on the card and bringing his stakes victories total to eleven on the season. He has been finishing in the top three 50% of the time. He is still looking for that elusive Graded victory to his credit, and I hope I will be invited to that party, it will be a blast.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES