16-1 shot Next Question was one of the longer shots in the $500,000 Nearctic Stakes (Can-I) last Sunday at Woodbine, but the four-year-old gelding apparently didn't know that. With John Velazquez aboard, he was able to steal the race in gate-to-wire fashion, holding off a late charge from Night Carnation to win the six-furlong turf sprint by a half-length.
Racing over a course labeled good, Next Question showed speed from the start, setting fractions of :23.03 and :45.71 while being pressured by Bear Tough Tiger. Super Chunky and Artic Fern were right behind the leading pair, followed then by Night Carnation, Stormy Rush, and Grand Adventure. As de Trobel, Big Band Sound, Fire Lily (who got off to a very poor start), and Hammers Terror were the trailers.
Next Question and Bear Tough Tiger continued to duel around the turn and into the homestretch, entering the final furlong with nothing between them. In the final sixteenth, Next Question put his rival away, but then had to hold off a late challenge Night Carnation, which he did so gamely. The final margin of victory was a half-length, with the final time being 1:09.32 seconds.
Bear Tough Tiger finished another half-length behind Night Carnation in third, while Big Band Sound rallied well to complete the superfecta. Stormy Rush, As de Trobel, Super Chunky, Hammers Terror, Grand Adventure, Fire Lily, and Artic Fern completed the order of finish.
The winner is a son of Stormy Atlantic out of the Slew City Slew mare Seattle Stardust. He is trained by Michael Trombetta and owned by Three Diamonds Farm.
-Keelerman
No comments:
Post a Comment