The 3rd Running of the SAR Oaks (G3)
August 8, 2021 15:20
SAR Race #8 $700.000 1 3/16 Turf
3YO Fillies 122 Lbs
Track Record-1:51.90 (Iron Nation-2020)
Stakes Record-1:52.10 (Ice Crystal-2021)
Ice Crystal is making the Triple Tiara look like easy work. Already the winner of the 1st leg July 10 G1 BEL Oaks, the Smokey Stover filly utilized her devastating turn of foot once again on Sunday to take the 2nd leg in the G3 SAR Oaks in stakes record time.
The winner (State Police o/o Ideal World) received nothing but praise from her trainer as Smokey Stover said, “I thought she was just excellent today. I am so excited about her future. I had already earmarked her as one of my very best breeding prospects based on pedigree and her recent races have only enhanced that potential.”
When the gates sprang, it was Break From Holly who jumped the best and she quickly established a clear lead. The Nakamura Stables filly was tracked by Hawaii County and Fangs Of The Storm as Ice Crystal sat in between runners and two lengths off of that stalking pair. The horses entered the first turn with Break From Holly loose on a two length lead after an opening quarter-mile went in :23.66. A trio of horses stalked her with Hawaii County sticking to the rail, Fangs Of The Storm in between runners, and Indecisive on their outside. Ice Crystal had created a little separation from Chili One on her inside and looked perfectly content to see how things would unfold up top.
Down the back stretch they continued, with Break From Holly still on a two-length lead through a half-mile in :47.21 and three-quarters in 1:10.66. A length and a half behind her, Fangs Of The Storm, Indecisive, and Ice Crystal were looking to amp-up the pressure from the three through five paths, respectively, while Hawaii County was saving all of the ground at the rail.
Fangs Of The Storm took over after a mile in 1:34.43, but Ice Crystal was bearing down on her from the outside. Break From Holly was continuing to battle, but struggling to keep pace with the top two and Hawaii County was trying to join that trio from her rail position. Fangs Of The Storm‘s lead was short-lived, as the G1 BEL Oaks victress quickly pounced and got away from her rivals. Gradually drawing away, Ice Crystal would be unchallenged the rest of the way. Fangs Of The Storm did not wilt, she just simply got outrun by the winner; however, she battled on gamely as did Break From Holly. Those rivals had to settle for the place and the show, but they ran incredibly well with the latter holding Hawaii County at bay to save her podium finish. The winner hit the wire in a new stakes record time of 1:52.10 and 13/4 lengths in front of the brave Arindel filly with Break From Holly about two lengths behind that rival.
With the win, Ice Crystal improves to 13-7-3-2 with earnings of 1,081.620 and increases her BC F&M Turf point total to 14, good enough currently for 6th on the leaderboard. Fangs Of The Storm secured four BC points for the place and now sits 3rd on that same leaderboard with 17; two points went to Break From Holly who now has three BC points. With two legs of the Triple Tiara in hand and 14 points towards qualification for the BC F&M Turf, trainer Smokey Stover faces a bit of a conundrum: does he go for the sweep with a win in the un-graded Jockey Club Oaks or does he go after precious BC points? The question was already on his mind soon after his filly crossed the wire, “The final leg is certainly a possibility but given that it is ungraded and she has not secured a spot in the BC yet I will need to think it over a bit more.”
Whatever path he chooses, congratulations to Smokey Stover and Ice Crystal, the winners of the $700.000 G3 SAR Oaks!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
