12 SA SA Oaks (GII) [KYO]
$400.000 3yoF 1 1/16m Dirt 122 lbs
In case you hadn’t noticed, Tell It Like It Is is good… real good. Facing some of the best 3yo fillies in the land in Saturdays SA Oaks (GII), the bay filly stayed near the front end throughout the mile and a sixteenth test, then motored home by three lengths in a final time of 1:43.64, second fastest time in the history of this race. Cp Great Moon Queen, the rank outsider at 46/1 was also near the lead throughout and grabbed the second spot with Latte Lady a neck back in third.
The field got away from the gate in front of the empty grandstand with Tell It Like It Is away fastest of all, Ete Creek, giving chase, Cp Great Moon Queen and Latte Lady. Rabbit For A Cause from the middle of the track, Dont Leave Me Lonely along the rail, then Wheres The Beef, Sin City Rainbow from the far outside, Starship Rainbow and the early trailer was Chance Of A Lifetime.
Move around the clubhouse turn and nearing the backside, six furlongs to run, and Sin City Rainbow moved up quickly to take command by two lengths. CP Great Moon Queen three wide, Tell It Like It Is between horses and Ete Creek on the rail. Another length back to Latte Lady in behind that trio, Wheres The Beef wide through the turn, Dont Leave Me Lonely skimming the rail, Rabbit For A Cuase next to that one, Starship Viking racing wide as well, and Chance Of A Lifetime remained the trailer, nine lengths covering the field.
Continue down the backside and now three and a half furlongs to run, Sin City Rainbow continued to show the way by two and a half lengths. Tell It Like It Is tracking that one, Cp Great Moon Queen on her outside, a length back to Ete Creek along the rail, Wheres The Beef continued four wide and Latte Lady between horses. Another length to Rabbit For A Cause, then a long gap back to Starship Viking, Dont Leave Me Lonely and Chance Of A Lifetime was still the back marker.
Around the far turn and to the top of the lane, they went past the three-sixteenths pole and in the blink of an eye, Tell It Like It Is moved up to take command by a length and a half. Sin City Rainbow digging in and trying to go on, Cp Great Mon Queen swung out for the drive to the wire, Ete Creek inching up, Latte Lady next to that one and Wheres The Beef fanning five wide for the trip home. Rabbit For A Cause in behind that trio, Dont Leave Me Alone cut the corner on the rail, Starship Viking with a lot of work to do and Chance Of A Lifetime continued to trail.
Deep stretch and to the wire… say it with me… Tell It Like It Is, in front, and she cruised home to win by three easy lengths. The big battle was for the minor offerings with five or six fanned out and giving their all… but Cp Great Moon Dancer continued on for the place, Latte Lady up for the third spot just in front of a fast closing Dont Leave Me Lonely. Rabbit For A Cuase was fifth, Wheres The Beef by a nose in sixth over a tiring Ete Creek, Starship Viking eighth, Sin City Rainbow ninth and Chance Of A Lifetime closed this one out.
Tell It Like It Is is a 3yo bay filly by Telling Ya – Wine Up Like U Want, by Jesse James, and she was bred in NY by her owner, Nakamura Stables. This was her sixth win from nine starts and she now has earnings of $471.940. I’d have to guess we will see her in Louisville, the first week in May, and she may be the one to beat that day, as well.
$2 Mutuel Prices:
| 4 – Tell It Like It Is | 7.90 | 4.70 | 3.70 |
| 6 – Cp Great Moon Queen | 31.40 | 119.40 | |
| 3 – Latte Lady | 4.30 |
Track: Fast Time: :233 :471 1:104 1:413
$1 Exacta: 4 – 6 Paid 626.40 $1 Trifecta: 4 – 6 – 3 Paid 436.60
Scratched: None
Tell It Like It Is broke alertly to lead early, taken back to rate off of the lead through the clubhouse turn, tracked the leader into the far turn, responded when asked to go clear, won with ease. Cp Great Moon Queen was forwardly placed throughout, game to the wire while no threat to the winner. Latte Lady raced midpack while saving ground, good late foot, up for the show. Dont Leave Me Lonely saved ground while racing well off of the pace, determined close, best foot too late. Rabbit For A Cause raced evenly throughout. Wheres The Beef wide trip, evenly. Ete Creek forwardly placed to the far turn, retreated. Starship Viking was never involved. Sin City Rainbow away well, rushed up to take command to the top of the lane, headed, folded. Chance Of A Lifetime showed little, outrun.
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
