4/25/2020

7 SA     Crystal Water Stakes

    $100.000    3yo&Up  Foaled in CA   1m Turf     3yo  121lbs  Older 124 lbs  +penalties

My picks finished next to each other but a DH for 2nd and fourth won’t cash many tickets.  Time Warrior, last seen at LRL running third in a OptAlw race closed determinedly for Paradise Stable and went on to win the Crystal Water Stakes by a length in a final time of 1:32.83 on the firm SA turf.  That was a new stakes record, although the race has been run at multiple distances.  Im Special and Lucky Storm ended up in a DH for the place with Smoking Makes you Il in fourth.

The field of nine loaded into the gate and were away in good order with Lone Shadow out quickly, Stormbringer next to that one, back down to the rail for Lucky Storm, Nicola Yat, Smoking Makes You Il then General Patton from the rail.  Im Special Was next, then Time Warrior, Bold Glitter and King Cool was the early trailer.

They made their way around the clubhouse turn and had five furlongs left to run, Stormbringer in front by almost a length, Lone Shadow on his inside and skimming the rail, a gap back to Lucky Storm in third, another length to Smoking Makes You Ill three wide and General Patton still saving ground.  Im Special just in behind and between that pair, Tim Warrior on the outside of that one, then a long gap back to King Cool on the outside of Bold Glitter, the back marker.

Down the backside and to the far turn, not much had changed other than just two and a half furlongs to run.  Stormbringer in front by two, Lucky Storm moving into second with Lone Shadow to his inside.  Another length and a half to the foursome of Time Warrior, widest of all, General Patton along the rail, Im Special next to that one and Smoking Makes You Il three wide.  A gap of three back to Nicola Yat, three wide, King Cool to the inside of that one and Bold Glitter still trailed while saving ground.

Around the far turn, into the lane and making their way past the furlong marker, Time Warrior swept up six wide and was now in front by a half length.  Lucky Storm still giving that one all he wanted, Im Special down the center and trying to press forward as Stormbringer cut the corner and was trying to find more from the hedge.  General Patton next to him, Smoking Makes You Il five wide but still in the thick of things, then Lone Shadow backing out of it from the rail, King Cool, Nicola Yat and Bold Glitter with a lot of work to do.

Deep Stretch and to the finish, Time Warrior in front by a length out widest of all and still drifting out, but he had the momentum and the win was in hand as he went under the wire by a length.  Lucky Storm and Im Special continued on well and ended up in a dead-heat for the place, then a gap back to Smoking Makes You Il in fourth.  General Patton was another half length back in fifth, King Cool with some late run to be sixth, Stormbringer seventh, Bold Glitter eighth, Nicola Yat ninth ad Lone Shadows was tenth and last.

Time Warrior is a 4yo bay cold by Warrior Rhythm – Time Time, by Edge Of Time, and he was bred by his owner, Paradise Stable, here in Cal.  This was his third win from fifteen starts, his first stakes win and his second win on the turf.  He now shows earnings of $71.520.

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Firm         Time: :23   :46   1:09¹  1:32⁴
$1 Exacta: 9 – 2 Paid 13.90, 9 – 7 Paid 43.60
$1 Trifecta: 9 – 2 – 7 Paid 558.10, 9 – 7 – 2 Paid 558.10
Scratched: None

Time Warrior broke well, sat behind the early pace, swept up six wide to take command into the lane, drifted slightly in late stretch, won driving.  Lucky Storm was forwardly placed throughout, no excuse, could not go on with the winner while finishing in a dead-head for the place. Im Special broke in hand, settled back off of the pace while unhurried, moved forward down the center of the track when asked, good closing effort while in a dead-heat for the place.  Smoking Makes You Il forwardly placed early, lost some ground into the far turn, some late action while no threat to the winner. General Patton ground saving trip, came off of the rail into the lane but no improvement through the lane. King Cool taken back shortly after the break, trailed into the lane, passed tiring rivals.  Stormbringer broke alertly, lead to the far turn, used up in the pace.  Bold Glitter showed little, outrun.  Nicola Yat raced mid-pack for a half mile, retreated.  Lone Shadow tracked the early pace, stopped.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded