Colin Stakes- $125.000 Purse
WO- For Two Year Olds
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
July 25, 2015

Some rain passed through Ontario Saturday afternoon, and with that we were left with a muddy main track.  With horses as young as these are, the rain would play as a significant factor in today’s race.  Today’s best mudder would be Wanted For Murder, who might have surprised his trainer, since based on his conformation and a short femur you may have thought he would have a tougher time on this off track, not thrive on it.  Today, conformation would be overrated, and Wanted For Murder would triumph over a strong field.   Now the trainer, Wynnewood, knows that not only does she have a talented young colt in her stable, but one that is not going to back down when the rain comes.    It is her first career win in the stake, and the same can be said for Wanted for Murder’s jockey, G Boulanger.  The winning time in the mud was 1:12.35.  The last horse to win the Colin Stakes on an off track of muddy or worse?  Five Fives.  Wynnewood will be hoping for more similarities as their careers go on, but for now, let’s look at how this race unfolded!

1st- 6- Wanted For Murder (5/1)-   G Boulanger wasted no time shooting Wanted For Murder out of the gate, firing him out to the lead, and leaving those chasing him in hot pursuit.   This start allowed him to quickly get over to the rail with a length advantage as they approached the turn.  The opening quarter mile in the mud went in :23.01.  Maintained this same consistent pace during the run around the turn, and hit the half mile mark in :46.70.  Upon exit of the stretch, no one was able to put pressure on Wanted For Murder, and the colt maintained his two length advantage.  He had everyone beat in the stretch, pulling away from all but that powerful closer that was making a nice move to get to second, but Double Jolly King never made Wanted For Murder flinch.  Wanted For Murder is a two year old by Hollywood Moon and out of the late autogen Soldera.  He was purchased by Wynnewood from Four Winds Racing for $125.000 in private sales in April, though was initially bred by Mb Stables, in Ontario.  Congratulations to all of the connections!

2nd- 9- Double Jolly King (12/1)- Early on, Double Jolly King never looked like a horse that was about to finish second, as the Gdp Inc entry was barely displayed on the viewer late in the backstretch.  Late in the turn, Double Jolly King began to advance, and at the top of the stretch, he exploded.  He had a clear lane only about four wide to make all these passes, so it set up well for him to make this move.  It’s always exciting to watch a horse pass so many in the stretch like this, and it was able to get him second place.   Maybe another half furlong and he could have won.

3rd- 8- No Tears For A Clown (8/1)- At the start, there was a group of five that pulled away from everyone else, and left a gap of five lengths between 5th and 6th.  No Tears For A Clown was the lead horse of that second pack early for Blushing Meadows.  Began to show moderate advancement within the turn.  Had a similar burst of speed as did Double Jolly King at the top of the stretch, but G L Olguin made a move a lane or two over to the inside, which therefore allowed Double Jolly King to get by and mean that his own horse would be caught up in some traffic.  Once free, he was again as explosive as Double Jolly King.

4th- 1- The Punisher (5/1)- Unable to punish the colt Wanted for Murder early, but did keep in pretty close pursuit in the early going for Wolf Ridge Stables, about two lengths from the lead.  Remained on the rail throughout the turn, and began to back out of it a little during the stretch.  The ending position is not as bad as it could have been as while a couple that were behind him got by rather easily, there were those ahead of him who packed it in entirely, and he gained those spots, getting a 4th place check.

5th- 4- Hard Slider (6/1)- P Husbands positioned his Barcelona Farms entry just off the lead in the early going, as the final horse of the initial lead pack that broke away from everyone else.  During the stretch run, his story was pretty much just like The Punisher’s.  He didn’t have anything for the winner, but wasn’t as bad as others.  Barcelona Farms probably would have settled for him at least having something for The Punisher for fourth, though.

6th- 7- Pretty Ghost (4/1)- Naturally, it would be a Ghost following Wanted For Murder out of the starting gate, as Alan Garcia kept the Hippyheart entry a length from the lead.  He stalked Wanted For Murder for a little while, but gradually backed out of it in the stretch, with the latter stages being a particular struggle.

7th- 2- Coup De Lyon (9/2)- The Nakamura Stables entry did not get off to a good start, and was next to last early, some eight lengths off the lead.  Although he was still ahead of the second place horse at this point!  He had some good speed in the stretch, he just had no room to show it as he pretty much ran into No Tears For A Clown.  Tough racing luck.

8th- 5- Lost Time (78/1)- The longshot from Timeless Inc was fourth early, in a three side position as they made their way into the turn.  In the stretch he was outmatched and quickly backed out of contention.

9th- 3- Dune Walkin (5/1)- The Mo Mentum Far entry was seventh early, but well off the pace, some eight lengths back.   He showed nothing in the stretch, and was not able to pass a single horse; stirring up memories of the disappointment of the horse that wore this same numbered saddlecloth in this race last year.

Track: Muddy
Time: :23   :46³  :59   1:12¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 6 – 9 Paid 69.50
$1 Trifecta: 6 – 9 – 8 Paid 1,125.50

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Ungraded