8/15/2020

 2   WO       Bold Venture Stakes (GIII)

   $125.000     3yo&Up     6 1/2f   Dirt      3yo 119  Older 123

Winner’s know how to win… that may be the story line for the 2020 Bold Venture Stakes (GIII) as Zombie City, trained by Eastern Equine, won his first race of the season but his sixth lifetime, running up his earnings as he hit the front entering the stretch and went under the wire clear by two lengths.  The final running time on the Fast WO main track was 1:144, just a few ticks shy of the track/stakes record, owned by Fat Nick.  Final Verse closed well to get involved, but just couldn’t get to the winner, settling for the place, with Hollywood Left, a 40/1 long-shot, taking third. 

The bell rang, the gates flew open and we were off and running…  Linebacker away quickly, Charleys Agent tracking that one from his outside, then a line of horses including Zombie City and Saturday Khartoum from the inside, Black Scorpion and In Spite from the outside, Big Sweeping was next from the rail, Hollywood Left, back to the outside for Final Verse, Fracas and Atomic Gold, and Audioslave was the early trailer.

They were flying down the backside and not into the far turn with three furlongs left to run, Linebacker by a neck, I spite on his flank and applying pressure, a gap of a length and a half to the trio of Zombie City on the rail, Saturday Khartoum between horses and Charley Agent widest of that group, another length and a half to Hollywood Left, Big Sweeping along the rail behind that one, Final Verse three wide and inching forward, Comic Gold to his inside, Black Scorpion three wide and Fracas just to his inside, as Audioslave continued to be the back marker.

Now at the top of the lane and a three-eighths of a mile to run, three across the track but Zombie City moved up quickly, splitting horses and setting sail… In Spite three wide, Linebacker along the rail, then a gap of two back to the foursome of Saturday Khartoum, Charlies Agent widest of that group, Hollywood Left two wide and Final Verse trying to find more along the inside.  Big Sweeping just in behind that group and cutting the corner, Comic Gold, Black Scorpion out wide, Fracas, and Audioslave could still see them all.

Deep stretch and to the finish, Zombie City had opened up two lengths of them at the furlong marker and he held that advantage to the wire, winning by two lengths.  Final Verse was five wide and closed down to take the second spot, a half length better than Hollywood Left in third.  In Spite was a nose back in fourth, then Big Sweeping fifth, Linebacker sixth, Saturday Khartoum and Black Scorpion in a dead-heat for seventh, Comic Gold ninth, Fracus tenth, Audioslave eleventh and Charleys Agent Closed this one out.

$2 Mutuel Prices: 

Track: Fast                 Time: :23   :45⁴  1:09   1:14⁴
$1 Exacta: 2 – 8 Paid 67.50                 $1 Trifecta: 2 – 8 – 4 Paid 1,266.40
Scratched: Einstein

Zombie City broke well, sat patiently behind the early pace, moved up quickly into the lane, drew clear at the furlong marker, no other threats.  Final Verse taken back off of the pace, moved forward through the far turn, fanned out six wide for the drive, second best.  Hollywood Left rated back mid-pack, evenly through the drive.  In Spite tracked the leader to the top of the lane, lost ground from there.  Big Sweeping rated back early, slightly improved position.  Linebacker broke alertly, set the pace to the top of the lane, tired.  Saturday Khartoum flashed early speed, tired.  Black Scorpion was outrun throughout. Comic Gold gave a dull effort.  Fracas was never involved, outrun.  Audioslave no speed, outrun.  Charleys Agent some early lick. stopped. 

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES