BC Fillies & Mares Sprint – Grade I
7 Furlongs Dirt Stake Purse $1,000.000 Filly & Mare 3 Year Olds And Up.
1st Oceanus Wood Duck Stables Cedillo A
For a long way things didn’t look good for this remarkable filly, breaking into the third group she spent the first five furlongs staring at the tails of those in front and it looked as if her much talked about flying finish would never have a chance. However inside the final two she found that the sea parted for her and when she saw clear air she sprinted through the gap with a furlong to run and put paid to them very quickly. She certainly wasn’t inconvenienced by the off track as she had won the grade three Hendrie on a good track so the question before the off and during the race was whether she would be able to use her devastating turn of foot in a tightly packed field of 14. As it stood she needed some luck at the right time and she got it and when she did it was all over.
This makes five wins from seven starts with her only defeat apart from her debut coming in the Ballerina when she didn’t find the gaps. Bred by Team 7 Illusions and bought for just $22 pre-race she has a conformation that would look more at home on a Distaff winner and maybe next year we will see her in that race instead of this one. Both her sire and dam although not superstars proved they could sprint and stay a mile plus so it will be great to see her back as a four year old challenging the new crop.
2nd Christina G Mb Stables Hernandez R M
Broke into group two which has been a pretty successful group in general and it looked as she cleared into the stalk that she had found the perfect position. She kept an eye on the leader for the first 5 furlongs and when it started to tire and drifted off the rail she forced through. It looked like that was the winning of the race as she led into the final furlong but Oceanus was just growing her wings and there was barely time to react before this filly was fighting for second. This was a brave effort by the consistent five year old who in 28 races had avoided an off track but brushed it aside today like it was just another day.
Bred by Gustafason Stable this was a much better effort than her ninth last year. Both her sire and damn were sprinters and whilst they never reached the heights that this mare has we can see where she got her speed from.
3rd Canary For One Mo Mentum Farm Van Dyke D
Considering the wide trip she got she ran a cracker to be third and remarkably considering her form this year remains win-less for the season. Breaking into the second group she worked hard to go with Christina G in the stalk but whilst that filly was later to benefit from the leading filly drifting off the rail this one got pushed pretty wide to launch her challenge. She was never going to be able to finish like the eventual winner did but she was very game in rallying for third in a lifetime best performance.
Bred by Wood Duck Stables her sire was a very poor maiden and her dam has been euthanized so this is certainly a run that was thanks to her ability rather than any inherited brilliance. The stable claimed her for just $12.50 from the breeder at the start of last year and has done a wonderful job at getting her here today in the best shape to run her best race.
4th Ifyerwokeyerajoke TwinTowersRacing Gaffalione T
The one box can be a blessing or a curse and when this filly broke into the third group it looked like she may get a tough run. She has proved before she can battle and though she had to find her own space she battled very bravely to get fourth in the end. She was the first of them home that was unsuited by the off track so that makes this race all the better.
Bred by the owner her bloodlines say she will make a lovely mare one day but i think there will be more wins to be had before that day comes.
5th Last Call YME Stable Espinoza V
Broke into the third group and raced wide the entire trip making this a huge effort. Remembering she had beaten the eventual winner n the Ballerina and how poor her trip was here i reckon we could see her back in this race next year.
6th Main Flirt Mb Stables Bridgmohan S X
Went to the lead as the three stable runners broke into their familiar formation and did a great job of setting a strong pace. She even moved out of the way to let her stable mate through forcing others wide but it was all in vain in the end. She did well to keep on for sixth though and with a more restrained ride may have done better.
7th Slckmoment Laga Night Rider Stables Saez L
Last years winner had a good trip and i was hopeful for a long way that she may recapture her brilliant best. However when she was blocked for a run the writing was on the cards and in the end she went to the line untested.
8th Spearmint Rhino Arindel Jaramillo E
Broke into group two and had a wide transit but it wasn’t bad enough to ruin her chances and when the ships came out she just battled a bit.
9th Baptisted By Fire Mo Mentum Farm Maldonado E
The four that got the spinny legs slow start filled the final six places so it is probably easiest to say she lost her chance at the gate.
10th Catch The Trip Gdp Inc Lopez P
Another that got the spinny legs slow start and never lived up to her name, she never had a chance.
11th Bella Chica Mb Stables Velazquez J R
Out of the three runners from the stable this was the one chosen to be the closer and whilst she found a nice early position for that role she fell back when she needed to be making ground and was pretty much a no show.
12th Starting Over TwinTowersRacing Davis D
Got the spinny legs start and never had a chance.
13th Dialing Angelos Stable Elliott S
Got in off the ballot and broke into the third group. She did make an effort wide but she never really had a chance having covered so much extra ground.
14th Lady Narloff TwinTowersRacing Gonzalez Ru
The last of the spinny legs and the clear last finisher.
Categories: BC 2021-2023, Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES, THE BREEDERS CUP
