The 17th Running of the G2 Muniz Memorial Handicap
March 26, 2022
FG Race #10 16:00 $300.000 11/8 Turf
4+ Handicap Weights
Track/Stakes Record-1:44.81 (Antelope Storm-2017)
Immookielee was the beneficiary of the blazing pace set by his stablemate, Zensational, in the G2 Muniz Memorial Handicap at FG on Saturday. Racing some 9-lengths back early, Immookielee utilized a powerful burst through the stretch to take down the $300.000 purse for the 9-furlong turf event. With the win, Immookielee improves his record to 16-8-3-2 and his earnings now stand at $679.220.
Zensational, breaking from stall nine, blasted from the gate and took the three runners in the second flight through a torrid early pace. Setting fractions of :44.69 for the half and 1:08.13 for three-quarters, the leader was never more than a length in front of the trio of Lets Do It Big Boy, Mock Galaxy, and Beach Xaar. On the overhead view, those were the only four on the screen as the rest of the field bided their time before making their move.
The first horse to make his appearance was the eventual winner, Immookielee, and he was a good seven lengths (and at least four wide) as they rounded the final bend. When new leader Lets Do It Big Boy reached the quarter-pole, he was a length ahead of Mock Galaxy, but Immookielee was beginning to really gather momentum and was only five lengths off of the new leader.
When he reached the final furlong marker, Lets Do It Big Boy was the only one of the pace factors who was still running, but the 1:32.63 mile was starting to show its effects. Immookielee moved into second and was closing resolutely down the center of the course and those who were running behind with him early were starting to pick horses off as well. The wire was approaching fast for a valiant Lets Do It Big Boy; however, Immookielee was approaching even faster. The winner made the final pass in the shadow of the wire and was a half-length in front of a valiant Lets Do It Big Boy as he stopped the clock in 1:45.55. Money Truck rallied to be third as he beat Outcross to the wire by a head. Completing the order of finish were Socrates, Dracarys, Sirzhu, Andes, Mock Galaxy, Zensational, and Beach Xaar.
Congratulations to Smokey Stover and Immookielee for their victory in the 2022 Muniz Memorial Handicap!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
