Stepping down in class is obviously not a bad thing at all as Spanish Colony did just that to capture the $100.000 Washington Park Handicap GIII at a mile and an eighth and setting a new track record at the same time at
Arlington
Park September 3, 2011.
He tried and tried to add another graded victory to his Tampa Bay Derby GIII win from last year but there seem to be something holding him back or stopping him from getting to the wire first but this time around Spanish Colony finally came through at the right time to pull off an upset win over highly favored Charming Montjue.
Tensweesh, Blood Rain and Biggus Dikkus were the fast three who battled on the front end with Tensweesh having his head in front. Frustration Nation was a length and a piece behind then five to seven lengths back came Spanish Colony and the favorite Charming Montjue. As the field entered the back stretch second choice Blood Rain grabbed the lead from Tensweesh and the rail running Biggus Dikkus. Frustration Nation still stalked the leaders and tailing off at the back were Spanish Colony and the favorite Charming Montjue who was now more than nine lengths off the lead and now where to be seen on screen.
As the leaders passed the half mile marker the gap started to close as Frustration Nation increased in his speed so too did Tensweesh who began to make a run for the lead once more. Biggus Dikkus drew up alongside Blood Rain and Spanish Colony bubbled and stepped on the gas running as though he just broke out the gate. Unable to cope Tensweesh faded slowly leaving Blood Rain and Biggus Dikkus to fight it out. As Tensweesh faded a gap was left open and Spanish Colony took dead aim on the opening as his feet quickly brushed the surface with every stride he wasted no time and past them, seeing what Spanish Colony was up to Charming Montjue began to increase his speed also but found that the wire was too close to get there in time.
Spanish Colony won by four lengths followed by second favorite Blood Rain, then Biggus Dikkus, Charming Montjue, Tensweesh and Frustration Nation. Spanish Colony's new track record of 1:47:85 erased the old mark of 1:48:83 set back in 2008 by Mikes Magic who was also trained by GlueFactory who trains Spanish Colony.
