April 18, 2016
Talent was clearly on display in the Grade II Distaff Handicap at AQU on a clear Sunday afternoon and while the favourites might have raced well enough to complete the top three placings, there was no stopping Silk Houses and the four-year-old filly came through with the biggest win of her now 20-race career. A daughter of low-level sire Houses Of The Holy, she had been knocking at the door going six-furlongs in a series of starts and used the added furlong to full affect, pulling away to a big win while pushing her earnings to over $330.000 in the process.
A small field and an extra furlong placed into the hands of some in the Distaff and not into the hands of others and Key West Minibus (4.00) broke like a rocket and took early command in a brazen move not seen from her in quite a while. Ocala Express (*1.75) held her inside position as the favourite while Chocolatini (10.80) dropped to the back of the pack and onto the main track, fractions were solid and the leader was clear by two-lengths through the first split of 23.00. A wall of three lined up behind the two frontrunners into the far turn and it looked like the outside runners would have the best chance around the wide AQU turns, but positioned remained unchanged through the initial half-mile in 46.14. Ocala Express moved forward as Earthly Gran (1.85) inched up outside with Great Spot (12.00) looking for, well, a great spot and at the head of the long stretch, it really was up to the best closer to win. As Key West Minibus gave up the lead, Ocala Express looked to sprint away from the field but while Great Spot found her spot but lacked any drive, Silk Houses (8.30) was resurgent after falling back in the middle stages and came through outside with her determined bid. The winner separated herselves from the rest in the final strides and at the wire, it was the outside bid of Silk Houses that repelled favourite Ocala Express but just over a length going away, with that runner-up winding up just ahead of Earthly Gran outside and Great Spot to her inside. The big disappointment came from Key West Minibus, who finished off the board for the first time almost a year, and Chocolatini, the Santa Monica winner who was a complete no-show for the second straight start.
Silk Houses had gone winless in open company since an allowance score in the slop at LS last May but put things together in a big way and upset the Grade II Distaff Handicap after a series of close finishes against similar company. Of course, the Grade I Humana Distaff is the logical spot for the best F&M sprinters in the country but the Grade III Vagrancy is just as important and could earn her some valuable points in qualification for the BC later this season.
Congratulations goes out to owner Alydar Stables and their four-year-old filly Silk Houses, a going-away winner of the Grade II Distaff Handicap at AQU!
Prediction Chocolatini / Key West Minibus / Earthly Gran
Winner Silk Houses
Four-year-old black filly
Houses Of The Holy-Kapa Silk (Kapa Haka)
Owner Alydar Stables
Time 23.00, 46.14, 1:09.60, 1:21.63
Overall
Silk Houses 8.30 sat between rivals, pushed forward, driving
Ocala Express *1.75 stalked, pounced, outkicked to wire
Earthly Gran 1.85 wide run, modest finish
Great Spot 12.00 lacked room around far turn
Key West Minibus 4.00 set pace, weakened
Chocolatini 10.80 outrun
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
