The Turf Dash ($100.000 Purse)
TAM- For Four Year Olds and Upward
Five Furlongs on the Turf
February 18, 2022

It was a surprise to see Z Baby Blue go off as the longest shot on the board, as even though he was not our top choice, we did have him as our second selection. He would get a jockey change, with the struggling C Lozada taken off and replaced by H VillGomez. This would prove to be the right decision as the five-year-old gelding earned the victory! Celebrating in the winner’s circle with him is his trainer, Asgar, who wins the race for the first time. That’s also true for H VillGomez. Congratulations to them! The winning time of :56.17 would have had him in a dead heat with last year’s winner and it is the second quickest such time in the race’s history. Let’s take a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :22.19)- After a good start by everyone in the field, Two Gallon Jugs would eventually clear the field before completing the backstretch run. The Bears Stable entry had a length on the rest of the field, which was nearly five wide right behind him. South Beach Racing’s Full Thundaga gets credit for being in second place at this point, leading the other three by a neck. The eventual winner, Asgar’s Z Baby Blue was one of them, and runs on the rail with Axeman’s Pink Condor right beside him. In the fourth lane is Showable Set, for Two Hearts One Love. In a five wide position, but a length behind the others, is Bluesman (Spankys Barn).

(Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Two Gallon Jugs holds the lead around the turn, but entering the stretch that was about to change. Full Thundaga, the TAM regular, was looking to be the first to pounce and he was within a neck of the leader. Pink Condor and Showable Set were within a length in third and fourth, while Z Baby Blue was ever so slightly behind them in fifth. Bluesman is at the back but very much in striking range.

(Finish- :56.17)- Full Thundaga does indeed take the lead at the top of the stretch, but he would have a lot more work to do. Four horses, including Z Baby Blue, were within a length of him, so the Turf Dash would certainly live up to its name. Now, who would win in this dash to get home? With a half furlong to go, this race was coming down to Z Baby Blue and Showable Set. In that battle, Z Baby Blue would be the quickest, prevailing by half a length over Showable Set with Full Thundaga settling for third. Pink Condor edges out Bluesman for fourth, and our pacesetter, Two Gallon Jugs, fell all the way to the back.

About The Winner- Z Baby Blue, trained by Asgar, and ridden to victory by H VillGomez, is a five-year-old gelding by Zed and is out of the late Blue Baby. He was bred in Florida by Barcelona Farms as a yearling and was acquired by Asgar in the June 2021 auction for just $3.020. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fifth in 15 starts, and his first stake win. His career earnings are now $268.120.

Track: Firm
Time: :22   :45   :56

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 4 Paid 244.50
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 4 – 3 Paid 479.50

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded