Here are my recaps of last week's major three-year-old racing action, including the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) where Algorithms and Hansen thrilled horse racing fans across the country. Remember, you can click the names of the stakes races to read a more detailed recap of the running. Enjoy!
Stakes Recaps
Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III)
Thoughts: There are at least a half-dozen reasons that could have contributed to heavily-favored Hansen losing this race -- fast pace, mud, possible distance limitations, you name it -- but the fact is, both winner and loser ran good races. Give Algorithms credit for blowing away the two-year-old champion in just his third start, and in his stakes debut. But Hansen ran very well too, setting a quick pace before tiring in the homestretch of his first start in nearly three months. It will be intriguing to see what happens if these two colts meet again in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) next month.
Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II)
Thoughts: Broadway's Alibi completely dominated this field in a highly impressive performance, and while she may have trouble in the future with longer races, it is doubtless that she could be a major force in sprint races.
Santa Ysabel Stakes (gr. III)
Thoughts: Willa B Awesome stole this race on the front end, escaping uncontested through moderate fractions and kicking away from grade I winner Killer Graces in the stretch. Clearly, Willa B Awesome has a lot of talent, but I believe Killer Graces may prove to be the better filly in future route races at tracks other than Santa Anita -- races like the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) and Alabama Stakes (gr. I).
Other Race Recaps
The seventh race on Sunday at Gulfstream Park (Read recap) could potentially be one of those key allowances races from which a number of future stakes winners emerge. El Padrino and Take Charge Indy were clearly superior to the rest of the runners, finishing 13 3/4 lengths clear of the rest of the field. El Padrino won by two lengths and was clearly moving the stronger of the pair in the stretch, but I thought that Calvin Borel may have moved a bit soon on Take Charge Indy, leaving his colt with less in the tank to hold off El Padrino's late run. However, regardless of who was best that day, I do expect to see both colts step up into stakes events next time out.
Then there was the seventh race at Santa Anita Park on Sunday (Read recap), where Zackn'mat proved best in the 6-1/2 furlong maiden special weight. After sitting sixth early on, the colt rallied on the far outside to engage the leaders in the stretch and draw away late. I thought it was a very good effort -- one that signals bigger things to come -- but I was even more impressed by runner-up Stirred Up, who broke slowly and found himself way off of the early pace before rallying furiously late to finish clearly best of the rest of the field. Mank, who finished third, could also be a good one further down the road.
-Keelerman
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