Hawaiian Shirt Guy had one entry in the BC, and it was his first ever. She finished second in the Natalma (G1), her only start at graded level in her short career. But she in six starts, she had only finished worse than 2nd once, and that was her first start on dirt in the mud. Once she switched to turf, she was able to win a high level N1X and a state-bred ungraded stake. She was coming into her own right on schedule. Still, the morning line had her at 8-1.
As the field hit the wire for the first time, Tightness and Dragonville II were first and second, with Feel The Thunder just behind them. Cobra Deth held her position on the rail in fourth. Snappy Runner completed the first group. Eventual winner, She Needsa Brazilian, sat two lengths off the leaders in the inside lane.
After a first quarter in a sensible 23:21, it was Tightness showing the way by ½ length over Feel The Thunder. Dragonville II and Cobra Deth were a length behind in third. It was another length back to Snappy Ruler in fifth. General Belle and She Needsa Brazilian ran mid-pack with Bottom Line and favorite Cinis another length back, then Darkest Days and K T D. Romantic Nebraska, Ariadne and Free Loading completed the field into the club house turn.
As the field entered the backstretch, Tightness and Feel The Thunder separated themselves from the field by almost two lengths over Cobra Deth and Dragonville II. She Needsa Brazilian still hugged the rail behind Cobra Deth.
The half mile went in 46:34 with Tightness showing the way and Feel The Thunder still pressing her. Not much changed on the front. She Needsa Brazilian came off the rail looking for what she really needed – room to run.
As the field reached the far turn, Tightness still showed the way with Feel The Thunder still pressing the pace, Dragonville II still chasing them. Behind her, they were stretched six wide across the track from Cobra Deth saving room on the inside to K T D in the sixth lane.
The pace was quickening. The three-quarter mile went in 1:09.59. General Belle in fifth moved out around the turn far enough for She Needsa Brazilian to swing out three wide and make a big move at the leaders. Cinis, five wide, had seven horses to beat. Into the stretch, She Needsa Brazilian caught Tightness and Cinis separated herself from the pack and set her sights on the leaders. In the middle of the stretch, She Needsa Brazilian surged to the lead and Cinis made a big move to second, just a length behind. And that’s how they hit the wire, pulling away from the rest of the field by two lengths.
The final time, 1:33.33 was just .18 off the stakes record set last year by Childe Of Nature.
She Needsa Brazilian continued the tradition of BC Juvenile Fillies Turf coming out of the Natalma (G1), which she lost by a neck to Cinis. She certainly got her revenge today. It was the first BC win for Hawaiian Shirt Guy who has been in the game since 2007, and he did it with a home-bred.
CONGRATULATIONS TO HAWAIIAN SHIRT GUY!
Full Order of Finish:
She Needsa Brazilian – Took a ground saving rail trip before swinging out three wide and exploding down the lane to win over favorite Cinis by ¼ length.
Cinis – Spent most of the race three to five wide. Found running room in the stretch but came up short to She Needsa Brazilian.
Snappy Ruler – Seventh going into the far turn. Wedged between horses with nowhere to go, she looked completely out of it but managed to get up for 3rd by a whisker.
Feel The Thunder – Pressed the pace throughout but ran out of gas in the stretch and finished 4th
Tightness – Led at every call except the last. Held on for 5th.
Dragonville II – Led briefly out of the gate, close to the pace throughout, and just got outrun in the stretch, settling for 6th place.
General Belle – Looked sharp out of the gate, but never fired. Finished a fading 7th.
K T D – Ran the entire mile in the middle of the track and hit the wire about seven or eight wide in 8th. Never had a chance.
Darkest Days –Another one with a wide trip. Never a factor.
Ariadne – Trailed the field behind a wall of horses through the backstretch, found running room into the stretch, but couldn’t catch the leaders and finished 10th.
Free Loading – Trailed early, swung very wide in the stretch but never fired. Settled for 11th.
Cobra Deth – Close early. Weakened badly in the stretch to finish 12th.
Romantic Nebraska and Bottom Line – 13th & 14th – never closer than 11th
Categories: BC 2015-17, THE BREEDERS CUP
