Connally BC Turf (Grade 3)- $200.000 Purse
HOU- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Half on the Turf
January 28, 2018

After finishing out 2017 on a strong run of form, a stretch that led to a check-earning result in the BC Turf, Techfluence wasted no time in making sure 2018 got off to a fast start. Literally. Because he shot right out to the lead here in the Connally BC Turf, and he would never look back. He’s often close to the pace in the early stages of races, but R Bejarano was not about to let anyone get ahead of him here. That said, the opening fractions were on the slow side, so his being on the lead was probably more of a product of no one else wanting to go up there and grab it. He was the post-time favorite for the race, and among our top picks, though not our first choice for the race. The proud winning trainer is The Sidley Stud, earning his first such win in the stake. For R Bejarano, it’s his second win, as he also rode Gila Bend, who won the race last year. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 2:25.04, the quickest of the three races run at this distance. Let’s take a look!

(½ Mile- :48.77)- After a bit of a battle with Romantic Pirate out of the gate, Techfluence jumps out to the lead for his trainer, The Sidley Stud, and leads the field down the backstretch by about a length and a half. Romantic Pirate, from Drabfantasy, is hanging around in a stalking position for second, and is soon joined by Love In Charge (Team 7 Illusions), who was happy to be starting from the rail in this race. After them, we go back a couple length to the fourth place Rio Cibuco, from La Canada Racehorses, running by himself in the middle of the field. The rest of the field assumes their positions for a late race charge, with Tin Lizze (Stald Gullis), Purely Perfect (Night Rider Stables), and Team Three (Court Jester Racing) running three wide. Its another length to Black N Gold Stables’ No Glaring At Me.

(Six Furlongs- 1:12.73)- The run down the frontstretch is pretty uneventful, as everyone is content to ride in the positions at this point, and save up for the second half of the race. The only sort of movement we did see was No Glaring At Me starting to get a little antsy in the back of the field. On to the next segment!

(Ten Furlongs- 2:00.44)- Did they let Techfluence get away? Over the backstretch, Techfluence continued to extend his lead, and no one was really up there to challenge him, despite running rather average fractions overall. This champion would clearly have plenty left in the tank, and it was starting to show. As the run down the stretch loomed, Techfluence had daylight, but some position shuffling was in order for the rest of the field. Romantic Pirate wasn’t awful, but would not have any sort of run at the lead. Love In Charge though, did tire out. Purely Perfect, and jockey D Van Dyke, running for J J Castellano last minute was the first of those who had been at the back to begin to charge forward, and Team Three also liked that idea and was in a good spot for the stretch. Rio Cibuco, Tin Lizzie, and No Glaring At Me were still well off the pace.

(Finish- 2:25.04)- Techfluence could put it in cruise control for the stretch as he secures a rather easy victory. Purely Perfect made a bid, but it started too late to really make R Bejarano have to do anything other then make sure his mount’s head was still in it. Good second for Purely Perfect. It was then three lengths back to anyone else, with Team Three outlasting Romantic Pirate and No Glaring At Me, the latter of which started moving forward way too late. Love In Charge and Tin Lizzie didn’t show much, and Rio Cibuco was a disappointing last.

About The Winner: Techfluence, trained by The Sidley Stud and ridden by R Bejarano, is a five year old horse by Techno, and out of Bad Influence. He was bred in Texas as a first quarter two year old by The Sidley Stud, who has enjoyed every high and low of his career. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his eighth in 26 starts, and its his 6th graded win. His career earnings are now $1,118.890.

Track: Firm
Time: :48³  1:12³  2:00²  2:25

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 7 – 5 Paid 77.60
$1 Trifecta: 7 – 5 – 8 Paid 544.80

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES