The 15th Running of the G1 BC Juvenile Turf
November 5, 2021 18:35
DMR Race #12 $1,000.000 1-Mile Turf
2YOs 122 Lbs
Track Record-1:32.22 (Bound For Victory-2012)
Stakes Record-1:33.10 (Exultant-2014)
The thing about “taking a stand against” a horse, you have to man up when said horse crushes. The Godfather proved this author wrong when he turned the $1,000.000 G1 BC Juvenile Turf into a coronation. Spotting his rivals five lengths through the opening half of the race, The Godfather unleashed a powerful rally and left his thirteen rivals in his wake through the DMR stretch. In the end the colt, trained by Smokey Stover, crossed the wire in 1:33.15 and two-and-a-quarter lengths in front of the runner-up, Search Engine.
It was Distinctive Edge who popped the gate and sprang to the early lead. Blasting away from stall six, he was almost four lengths ahead of his nearest rival the first time they passed the wire. When Distinctive Edge reached the quarter-mile mark in :22.88, The Godfather was eighth while racing in the four path about five lengths behind. It was at that point that Mario Gutierrez moved the eventual winner down to the inside and decided to save as much ground as he could through the remainder of the first turn.
Distinctive Edge was two lengths in front of Polish Power and Yang Gang when he hit the half-mile pole in :46.13. The Godfather was positioned in the two path after leaving the rail almost halfway down the backside, but he was still five lengths behind the winner and running eighth. As they neared the final turn, Distinctive Edge was starting to feel the heat from the group of four horses to his outside and The Godfather was just beginning his march forward.
When Distinctive Edge reached three-quarters in 1:09.63, his lead was less than a length over Polish Power and The Tonight Show; however, the real threat would come from the horse in the four path who passed three horses in quick succession and had his sights set on the wire. Polish Power would become the second horse to lead the race, but his time up front was less than 50-yards as The Godfather powered past him just outside the furlong-marker. From there, it was only a matter of how much distance would he be able to put between himself and the nearest competitor.
No one could gain any ground on the juvenile turf champion of 2021; however, Search Engine came closest to matching his pace. That one endured a wide trip throughout, but still ran well enough secure the place from The Tonight Show who out-gamed Polish Power for the show honors. The order of finish was completed by Distinctive Edge, Keenness, Yang Gang, Triple Spirit, Oh Brother, Mr Insurrection, Twenty Twenty, Winery Refinery, Deactivation, and High Time.
The Godfather (Con Artist o/o Immookalee) improved his bankroll to $903.200 and his record now stands at 5-3-1-0. Again, it must be said, when you “take a stand” against the eventual winner AND your selection runs last, you admit you were wrong and say congratulations to Smokey Stover and his champion The Godfather for their victory in the G1 BC Juvenile Turf.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
