November 2, 2015

An evenly matched field of 14 turf milers took to KEE on Saturday for the $2000.000 BC Mile and facing many of the same rivals as last year in the Mile at SA, Sir Tom was able to step up from his third in that event and win the biggest race of his career by a neck as a 24-1 longshot, and earn owner Brave both their first BC win and their first Grade I win period. A homebred out of sire Sir Bart from a lightly campaigned mare named Kahlua, he came in ranked fifth in BC Mile Points but exits a champion with unwavering resolve and now sports seven career wins and back-to-back $1000.000+ campaigns, with more than $2500.000 in total and many more races left to go in his stellar career.

Because of the KEE turf course, it is a very short run into the first turn going a flat-mile and those looking to lead need to get out quickly in order to save ground, which is exactly what Sir Tom (24.65) did from his middle post and Silver Bullet (6.20) tried to do from an impossible spot. After the first furlong, the leader was able to get down to the rail in a very smart move and that left his stalkers very wide, including Sandor Clegane (24.40) and Wincrea (18.65) from equally wide draws, and Honorable Eight (14.40) from midpack. With the first quarter-mile up in a rapid 22.99, Silver Bullet was able to clear to the front while wide with Wincrea just inside and Sir Tom along the rail and as Sandor Clegane fell back into a stalking position, a line of four came in the second flight including Spanish Showboat (6.90) inside and Irish Flu (32.60) almost five-wide. A quick first split led to a half-mile in 45.94 and into the far turn, Silver Bullet was still leading the way but only just and as everyone shifted inside, it shut off Sandor Clegane while allowing Hold The Mach (13.30) a perfect run from behind rivals if good enough. As the action started to heat up, Sir Tom came through on his inside run to take the lead from Wincrea with Silver Bullet spent and Sandor Clegane free and clear out wide and with six-furlongs in 1:09.17, the entire field of 14 was within six-lengths with anything possible down the stretch. But, funny enough, with a furlong to go, nothing was really happening and Sir Tom was clear by a half-length and as everyone sprinted and strained and stretched for for the wire, the longshots held their ground up front. Following up on his third-place finish last year, Sir Tom was a neck the best from a very game Sandor Clegane, who gave owner Smithtown Stables the biggest thrill of their career, with Wincrea another credible third and Spanish Showboat fourth in a dead-heat with a wide running Iron Mann (7.20). Tin Lizzie (18.85) also came wide to finish fifth, with favourite Son Of Ra (*2.35) sixth along the inside and Honorable Eight and Silver Bullet together in seventh. Defending champion Seven Years (17.45) was along behind them, with Irish Flu and Moms Guy (20.05) in the parking lot from post 14, while Hold The Mach was unable to go on and only beat Pip Cozzene (19.05) home, as he finished last but less than four-lengths behind the rousing winner.

Eight-year-old mare Kahlua only earned $3.000 on the track and has produced 13 foals to date, with only one of them earning anything on the track. But when you earn more than $2500.000 and wind up with a Grade I BC Mile victory, you can be forgiven and I am sure that owner Brave is quite happy with the success of Sir Tom to this point. While there are plenty of options to close out his season including the Seabiscuit Handicap at DMR, he is only a four-year-old with plenty of racing options left so the best plan might be to put him away for the year and start fresh at five, with eyes on another $1000.000+ season.

Congratulations goes out to owner Brave and their four-year-old colt Sir Tom, a rousing winner of the Grade I BC Mile at KEE!

Prediction                   Silver Bullet / Son Of Ra / Seven Years

Winner                        Sir Tom

                                       Four-year-old gray colt

                                        Sir Bart-Kahlua (Auto-Generated)

Owner                          Brave

Time                              22.99, 45.94, 1:09.17, 1:33.32

Overall

Sir Tom                         24.65 inside speed, drove clear, held sway late

Sandor Clegane          24.40 behind rivals, angled, up for second

Wincrea                         18.65 pressed outside leader, failed to quicken late

Spanish Showboat     6.90 behind rivals, minor late rally

Iron Mann                    7.20 wide late run, fell short

Tin Lizzie                      18.85 even late push

Son Of Ra                     *2.35 inside run, failed to quicken enough

Honorable Eight         14.40 midpack throughout

Silver Bullet                  6.20 set pace, faded after wide trip

Seven Years                  17.45 no threat

Irish Flu                        32.60 wide run throughout

Moms Guy                    20.05 no factor

Hold The Mach           13.30 pressed, faded

Pip Cozzene                  19.05 outrun

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: BC 2015-17, THE BREEDERS CUP