September 1st
Race 7: Maiden Special Weight
7 furlongs for 2yos
Trainer Todd Pletcher had a pair of entrants, with the
more highly El Duro receiving more betting support. But in the end, that
colt could only manage an even fourth-place finish behind Pletcher's other colt
Micromanage, who stamped himself as a colt of very high quality with a
decisive victory. Ridden to victory by Javier Castellano, the son of Medaglia
d'Oro settled into fifth place early on before working his way into contention
about a half-mile from the finish. He then made a bold run around the turn to
take command of the lead at the top of the stretch before subsequently drawing
off in powerful fashion to win by five lengths in the exceptional time of
1:23.01 seconds. Apex tracked the pace for much of the race and finished
clearly second best, but was no match for the winner. Gulfport was
heavily favored, but tired to finish third after setting fractions of :23.23
and :46.62 seconds.
September 2nd
Race 2: Maiden Special Weight
7 furlongs for 2yo fillies
There were four first-time starters in the field of
eight, and in the end, they swept the trifecta. The winner was Cue the Moon,
who spent much of the race in fourth place before attempting a rally in between
horses and having the hole close. Then, after waiting for racing room, jockey
Ramon Dominguez shifted his mount to the outside, and Cue the Moon responded
with a good run that carried her to a half-length triumph in 1:24.30. Emollient
was last early on, rallied well on the far outside to take the lead, but
couldn't hold off the winner's run while turning in a good effort. Madgi
put in a mild rally from seventh place to finish third, 3 1/4 lengths behind
the winner. Liquid Lunch tracked the pace in third place, took over the
lead at the top of the stretch, but gave way late to finish fourth.
Race 10: Spinaway Stakes (gr. I)
7 furlongs for 2yo fillies
Teen Pauline was the odds-on favorite thanks to a track
record-setting debut earlier in the meet, but tired in the stretch to finish
third behind So Many Ways, who brought her record to a perfect 3-for-3 with a
decisive victory.
September 3rd
Race 1: Maiden Special Weight
8.5 furlongs on turf for 2yos
Noble Tune was favored for trainer Chad Brown, and the son of Unbridled's Song lived
up to expectations with a dominating victory. With Ramon Dominguez aboard, the
colt didn't get off to the best of starts, but soon settled into the sixth
position along the rail while Bye Bye Bernie set fractions of :24.66 and
:49.74. Noble Tune continued to save ground around the turn, then split horses
entering the homestretch to seize command of the lead and draw away powerfully
to win by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:43.08 seconds. Draw Too rallied from last
to finish second in a good effort. Metro raced wide throughout and just
missed securing the place. Bye Bye Bernie tired to finish seventh.
Race 3: Maiden Special Weight
8.5 furlongs on turf for New York-bred 2yos
West Hills Giant, with Jose Espinoza aboard, turned in a gritty effort to
win this race by a head. The son of Frost Giant spent much of the race in the
third position, saving ground on the first turn before switching to the outside
rounding the second bend. He then moved up to take over the lead from
pace-setting Holy Endeavor before subsequently finding himself in a
thrilling battle with that one for the length of the stretch. In the end, West
Hills Giant held tough to win by a head in 1:43.39 seconds. The runner-up set a
slow pace of :24.59 and :49.36 seconds before eventually losing the stretch
duel with the winner. Irish Jade rallied from ninth to secur third,
beaten just three-quarters of a length.
Race 6: Maiden Special Weight
5.5 furlongs for 2yos
Seven horses went to post, with Todd Pletcher's Revolutionary
sent off as the favorite. But the winner was Always in a Tiz, who
tracked the pace in the second position before taking over in the at the top of
the stretch and holding off a late run from Clawback to win the race by a
half-length in 1:04.13 seconds. The latter colt settled into the third position
early on, four lengths behind the eventual winner, then made a bold run to draw
within a head of Always in a Tiz at the eighth pole. However, he failed to
sustain his momentum to the wire, losing ground to the winner late while
holding on to finish second. Revolutionary was bumped hard at the start and
trailed the field by fourteen lengths with just five-sixteenths of a mile to
go, yet rallied furiously in the homestretch to finish third, missing the
victory by just 1 1/4 lengths.
Race 9: Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes (gr. I)
Fortify was the
favorite for owner Goldophin Racing and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, but Todd
Pletcher was able to put the finishing touches on a spectacular meet by winning
this race in impressive fashion with Shanghai Bobby.
http://triplecrowncountdown.blogspot.com/2012/09/shanghai-bobby-wins-hopeful-stakes.html-Keelerman
