Shakertown – Grade II
5 1/2 Furlongs Turf Stake Purse $200.000 Open 3 Year Olds And Up.
Well I billed this one as the race that would change the course of the season and it certainly answered a few questions. Firstly a good horse can win over any trip at HRP, secondly three year olds are already better than the olders with the weight allowance much the same as last years domination and thirdly fillies can race against the boys but there seems to be an additional speed penalty which negates the fillies weight allowance when racing against colts. Oh and finally there seems very little between stakes racing and maidens as Great And Prudent very nearly pulled off his maiden win !
So here’s how the race panned out with just four lengths first to last.
1st Magne Bern Gdp Inc Beschizza A
This gelding is turning into a serious race horse winning his third race from 3 starts and all over different trips. Running an almost identical race to his allowance win over this trip he sat back and produced a great finish to win by a neck. I have no idea what this horses best trip is but with this sort of performance he will have his pick of three year old and up turf races this year.
2nd Levi Sneaky Estero Farms Hernandez R M
I thought the massive weight allowance coupled with blistering race and work times would be enough for this filly but in the end it just wasnt. Leading inside the final furlong i thought she had it in the bag but the gelding was just stronger in the finish and got up on the line. Back against her own sex she will be a force in sprints especially against the older fillies and mares.
3rd Great And Prudent Drabfantasy Lezcano J
This one was just a quarter length between this maiden and his first ever win. Beaten twice this year already against fairly average maidens he kept running all the way to the line today and very nearly pulled off a shock win. Still this colt beat the BC Turf Sprint winner from last year which is some scalp for a thrice race maiden.
4th Great Bounty Drabfantasy Colon L H
What a difference a year makes, as a three year old with the weight allowance he was beating the best turf sprinters around in the Nearctic and the BC Sprint and this year he can’t even beat a maiden albeit a very good one. Considering the weight difference he did pretty well to be fourth and as the weight allowance gets smaller he may get back to the winners circle.
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
