7/10/21

  3   BEL    The BEL Oaks (GI)

$700.000      3yoF      1 1/4m  inTurf        122lbs

A heck of a race indeed… The BEL Oaks (GI) was a fantastic race!  The post time favorite was north of 5/1 and the longest shot on the board gave a bang-up effort to be fourth… add in that when they turned for home, it appeared that just about any of these could win…  what a humdinger!  In the end, Smokey Stover pulled off another big victory as Ice Crystal powered home to win by a quarter length in a final time of 1:58⁴ for the mile and a quarter turf stakes, run on the inner course.  Arindel was able to nail down second and third as Fangs Of the Storm grabbed the runner up spot, a length in front of stable-mate Casting Couch Cutie, both sent off at 10/1 odds.  Build Battle grabbed the minor money, which was still pretty handy in this one.

The field entered the starting gate on the inner turf course, the flag went up… and they were off and running in the 2021 BEL Oaks!  Hawaii County and Chances Are off to quick starts, Dream Scheme, Common Misconception, Fangs Of The Storm and Indecisive behind that duo.  Another gap back to the trio of Casting Couch Cutie on the outside, Ice Crystal on the inside and Build Battle between that pair.  Then Wonderful Authority, then a gap back to Buckingham Palace Grand Phoenix, Silver Cobra and Magic Centre was the early trailer.

Around the clubhouse turn and nearing the back stretch, six and a half furlongs to run, Hawaii County and Chances Are still slugging it out on the front end, Common Misconception saving ground in third, Fangs Of The Storm to the outside of Dream Scheme, Indecisive caught wide, then Casting Couch Cutie on the outside of Build Battle, and Ice Crystal on the hedge.  Another gap to Grand Phoenix between foes, Magic Centre between horses with Buckingham Palace on the inside.  Silver Cobra was next and Wonderful Authority was now the back marker. 

Making their way down the backside and nearing the far turn with three and a half furlongs to run, Hawaii County with a neck advantage, Chance Are continuing to force the issue as Fangs Of The Storm moved up quickly to join them.  A gap of two back to a line of horses that included Common Misconception, Indecisive from the far outside, Ice Crystal, Casting Couch Cutie, and Dream Scheme. Another length and a half to Build Battle, Magic Centre and Silver Cobra from the outside, Grand Phoenix, Buckingham Palace from the rail and a gap back to the trailer, Wonderful Authority.

Around the far turn and to the top of the lane, the went past the three-sixteenths pole and Fangs Of The Storm was in front by two lengths.  Ice Crystal now set down for the drive and was moving quickly, Hawaii County on the rail, Casting Couch Cutie and Indecisive on the outside, Chances Are with a clear run, Common Misconception just to the inside of that one, Build Battle was next, Silver Cobra from the far outside, Dream Scheme trying to find more, back to the inside fro Buckingham Palace, Wonderful Authority trying to close from the outside, Grand Phoenix and Magic Centre. 

Deep stretch and to the wire, Fangs Of The Storm’s lead was dwindling with each stride as Ice Crystal was flying down the center of the course and went right on by with a sixteenth to run, taking the win by a half length.  Fangs Of The Storm continued on well to grab the place with the late closing Casting Couch Cutie nabbing the show.  Build Battle also closed well to take the minor money, with Hawaii County in fifth.  Indecisive was sixth, Wonderful Authority seventh, Common Misconception was eighth, Silver Cobra ninth, Buckingham Palace tenth, Chance Are eleventh, Grand Phoenix twelfth, Dream Scheme thirteenth and Magic Centre closed this one out.   

Ice Crystal is a 3yo chestnut filly by State Police – Ideal World, by Calling The Gods, and she was bred by her owner, Smokey Stover, here in NY.  This was her sixth win from twelve starts and her first graded stakes win.  She now has lifetime earnings of $661.620 and now carries a three-race win streak.  Obviously, the sky is the limit for this one.  Congrats to the connections. 

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Firm          Time: :47³  1:11   1:34⁴  1:58⁴
$1 Exacta: 8 – 10 Paid 74.60           $1 Trifecta: 8 – 10 – 13 Paid 1,515.50
Scratched: None

Ice Crystal rated back mid-pack to the far turn, began to make her way through traffic, moved to the 5p for the drive, headed leader inside the final sixteenth, won driving.  Fangs Of The Storm sat patiently while never far from the pace, moved up quickly to take the lead into the far turn, headed at the sixteenth, game effort, second best.  Casting Couch Cutie mid-pack, good closing effort, wide trip cost better finish.  Build Battle unhurried early, steady gain through the far turn, best foot too late.  Hawaii County set the pace from the rail, headed into the far turn, tired.  Indecisive wide throughout, evenly.  Wonderful Authority trailed, passed tiring rivals.  Common Misconception good early speed, tired.  Silver Cobra was not a factor.  Buckingham Palace rated, no factor.  Chances Are forced the pace to the far turn, tired.  Grand Phoenix was not involved.  Dream Scheme showed early interest, tired.  Magic Centre was not a factor.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES