2/26/22

  2  OP     The Rebel (GII) [KYD]

$1,000.000      3yo         1 1/16m  Dirt         122lbs

I know that I’m paid to give my opinion, but since I also race here, I don’t think that’s a good idea, so as Joe Friday said, the facts ma’am… just the facts.  And the facts are Smokey Stover controlled the goings  on here at OP over the weekend taking both stakes race… and here’s the catch… with fillies.  Well, one of them had to be… the other, HAD to be…  as Shadow Police scored the win in Saturday’s The Rebel (GII) and will surely set off a fire-storm here at HRP. 

The bay filly split horses in the lane, coming from well off of the pace with a three-wide move, and kicked clear late to win by a length in a final time of 1:41² for the mile and a sixteenth stakes.  She was sent off at 5/1 odds, so the punters certainly know how things stand.  Post time favorite Individuation, backed at 7/2 odds, gave a good effort to take the place by three-quarters of a length over pace-setter Keyhunt, with Ocean Of Wisdom a half-length back in fourth. 

The field went forward with thirteen in the gate, with the late exclusion of Bella Chica, and away from the gate in good order with the typical merry-go-round break, the trio of Keyhunt between horses, Ocean Of Wisdom from the outside and Come To Papa from the rail, Individuation on the rail just behind the speed, Shadow Police next to that one, another gap to Denon, The Magic Box on the rail, Lailoni on her outside and Up In Smoke between them, then another gap to the trailing foursome of Winstorm, Chai West, Chain Of Command and Han Solo.

They dashed off around the clubhouse turn and nearing the backside with six furlongs to run, Keyhunt in front with Come To Papa keeping the pressure on from the rail, a gap of three back to Ocean Of Wisdom on the rail, Demon next to that one and Lailoni three wide.  Individuation just in behind that trio, Up In Smoke next to that one and Shadow Police three wide.  It was another length back to The Magic Box, Chai West between horses, Han Solo three wide, Winstorm just behind that group caught four wide and Chain Of Command trailed.

Down the backside and headed into the far turn with three furlongs to run, not much had changed on the front end with Keyhunt showing the way, Come To Poppa continuing to shadow that one from the rail, then a gap to Demon now alone in third, a length and a half to Lailoni three wide, Individuation in the two path, Up In Smoke on the far outside, then down to the rail for Ocean Of Wisdom.  A length and a half back to Shadow Police, Winstorm on her outside, down to the rail for The Magic Box, Chai West between horses, Han Solo on the outside and Chain Of Command was the trailer.

Making their way around the far turn and into the lane with three-sixteenths of a mile to run, Keyhunt trying to go wire to wire, Come To Poppa still keeping the screws tight on that one, Demon in the three path for the drive, Individuation towards his inside and inching forward, Up In Smoke fanning widest of all, Ocean Of Wisdom from the rail, Shadow Police just to the outside of that one, Lailoni on her flank, The Magic Box still saving ground, then Winstorm out wide, Han Solo next to that one, Chai West and Chain Of Command.

Moving down the lane, as they neared the sixteen pole, this one was shifting in the blink of an eye… Individuation just seemed to shove Demon out of the way as he looked for racing room and was moving forward, and now Shadow Police exploded to move forward in a flash.  Ocean Of Wisdom moved off of the rail looking for racing room, but Keyhunt and Come To Poppa continued to show the way in this battle to the wire… 

Deep stretch and to the finish, the dual on the front was crumbling as Shadow Police moved forward like she was shot out of a cannon, Individuation trying to go with the bay filly but it was over as quick as you could say filly fever… and Shadow Police thundered home to win by a length.  Individuation continued on well to take the place with Keyhunt third.  Ocean Of Wisdom closed a late gap to be fourth with Come To Poppa tiring to be fifth.  Up In Smoke was sixth, Demon seventh, another length to The Magic Box in eighth, Han Solo ninth, Lailoni tenth, Winstorm eleventh, Chain Of Command twelfth, and Chai West closed this one out. 

Shadow Police is a 3yo bay filly by State Police – Shadow Island, by Neon Wolf, and she was bred in NY by her owner, Smokey Stover.  This was her fourth win from five starts, all consecutive, and she now has lifetime earnings of $788.400.  Congrats to the connections!!  

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast           Time: :23   :46   1:09⁴  1:41²
$1 Exacta: 11 – 3 Paid 72.20         $1 Trifecta: 11 – 3 – 7 Paid 1,612.40
Scratched: Fifty Lucky, Bella Chica

Shadow Police raced mid-pack 3p to mid-way on the far turn, moved to the 2p looking for racing room, split foes at the furlong marker and again at the sixteenth pole while moving fastest of all, kicked clear late, had more.  Individuation mid-pack 2p, began to moved forward far turn, moved to 3p late, second best.  Keyhunt set the pace to the sixteenth marker, could not go on, good effort.  Ocean Of Wisdom showed early speed to gain rail position, drifted back through the field from the rail, re-rallied, best foot too late.  Come To Poppa pressed the pace to the sixteenth pole, tired.  Up In Smoke midpack 3p, fanned for the drive, evenly.  Demon forwardly placed to the furlong marker, drifted, tired.  The Magic Box saved ground to no avail.  Han Solo was outrun.  Lailoni broke in hand, rushed up back stretch, tried.  Winstorm wide trip, no factor.  Chain Of Command was never involved.  Chai West was outrun. 

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES, THE TRIPLE CROWN