Lightly turf raced sophomore bay gelding Cherra Grans maybe be heading in a whole new path after a runner-up finish in the Transylvania, and capturing this title here on Saturday over the grass.
- Grade II American Turf Stakes- Purse $400.000
- Churchill Downs – Mile and a sixteenth Turf Course
- For Three Year olds
- May 4th, 2019
I think Cherra Grans trainer has quickly learned that off track conditions suits his thoroughbred quite well. In his five starts over an off track , he has a record of ( 3-1-1 ). His efforts on the day also returned a 100 SRF figure, the best of his career. While he broke cleanly and looked as if he was going to challenge early on, his rider decided to reel him in and wait for the strike down the stretch. He would post a 1:43.82 time for the event.
Going runner-up was post time favorite Arkenstone ( Mb Stables ) who was held in check throughout most of the race, until the turn for home when he would literally follow the eventual winner to his outside off the turn. Both he and Cherra Grans were in the hunt for this title.
Early front runner Tinecipher ( Joshua Stables ), who found his way in off the AE with the scratch of Devil Tower was quick to grab the lead by the clubhouse turn, but that would be short lived by the far turn, when Dead Madness ( John Henry ) would steal the lead away. Tinecipher would find himself crossing the wire at the back of the field. As for Dead Madness, he would put in a brilliant battle up until the final eighth of a mile, when he would be passed and whine up a disappointing fifth.
The show purse would go to High Voltage’s Laffin Jamie, who managed to slip by Devilish Details in the lane, and leave that runner picking up the final purse money.
Track: Soft
Time: :234 :481 1:124 1:434
$2 Mutuel Prices:
| 10 – Cherra Grans | 13.10 | 5.20 | 5.40 |
| 9 – Arkenstone | 3.70 | 3.10 | |
| 2 – Laffin Jamie | 6.00 |
$1 Exacta: 10 – 9 Paid 28.80
$1 Trifecta: 10 – 9 – 2 Paid 1,405.80
Scratched: Devils Tower
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
