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Head To Head Battle Brewing in Gazelle
By
McDuffy
Nov 23, 2011,
9:15:56 AM
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Saturday November 26th, 2011 Aqueduct Race # 5 Post : 13:20
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AQU 5 The Gazelle ( Gr. I )
$250.000 For Three Year olds Mile and an eighth Dirt
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After it initial six seasons being run over the BEL main track, in 2009 the Gr. I Gazelle found a new home here at AQU, and with it came even faster finishing times. While the BEL track accounted for a top speed time of 1:50.02 in 08 by Pawnee Rock ( 88 Jayhawk ), last years winner Antiquated Idea ( Team Furey ) would set the event record time with a 1:48.47 finish. If this seasons group of five are unable to fracture that time at the wire, there is a stellar group of juveniles waiting in the wing to place their mark on this event.
Of all the past winners of this race, all but one would go on to win a few more titles in their career. This then two year old filly would win the Gr. III Sorrento and the Gr. I Frizette, before finishing fifth in the BC Juvenile Fillies race. As she turned three, she would capture the SA Oaks in a photo finish, then struggle against Grade I company in her next five races until she would win the Gazelle. Once again she would only place fifth in that years BC Distaff race. In her next sixteen starts, she would go winless before retiring to the breeding shed in the spring of 2007. Her name is Waimea Bay and she has produced eleven foals, with not a stellar record in the bunch. Her owner Whitewater Stables allowed Riggins Racings to breed her for $40.000 with a thirty dollar investment in a sire by the name of Penal Colony ( Glue Factory ), but the foal Colony Bay would only have a record of 9 ( 0-3-1 ) before being put down. Her asking price is still a pricey $25.000, and she is in breeding this quarter for Rouge River Stables with Kim's sire Big Delinquent. With sixteen straight loses after winning the 05 title here, I think I could look elsewhere to put up that kind of cash for a broodmare.
So who amongst this group of five will hopefully be able to continue their winning ways and earn a few more nice fat paychecks before being sent to the shed? A small field may look easy, but an underdog can be lurking just around the corner. Heres the field;
In nine starts this season, this black filly still remains winless, with only a place and three shows to her credit. In her debut of the season she would finish fourth in the Gr. III Santa Ysabel Stakes two back, then go runner-up in the Gr. I Las Virgenes Stakes in February behind Funky Music who has gone on to capture five more graded titles. Has been searching for a level that she can be competitive on, or at least learn the feeling of winning a race. Is untested at the mile and an eighth distance, but the smaller field should have her up for the show purse
Is returning three weeks later from her try in the Gr. I BC Ladies Classic where she stayed competitive throughout that affair only to miss by a length in fourth. She has two wins in nine starts this season, her last victory coming in mid June when she took home the Gr. I Acorn at BEL over a mile. Has had two morning works at CD to keep her sharp, her most recent miler this past Monday in a time of 1:35 and four handily ( 2/12 ), and that should have her in the hunt today. Top contender.
With a very impressive record coming into this event, her seven wins in nine starts puts her in top class form here. Is coming off a victory in the Gr. II Cotillion over a good PHA surface, finishing in an upfront effort ahead of Blow Me To The Moon by six one-hundredths of a second. The extra sixteenth of a mile today will put her frontrunning style to the test if her trainer has her out quickly. Looks like she will be trying to hold off that runner once again for the victory. Would prefer the track to stay off, but the sun will be drying out those dreams.Head to head finish.
The most lightly raced filly in this group with only five starts this season, her only victory came in an Alw28s event back in February at SA. Did compete in the Gr. III Comely Stakes over this surface in April going a mile, and she was able to make up some ground late to finish two lengths back of Blow Me To Moon. Her most recent Alw41s event on the 28th of last month had her grabbing the show money going seven eights of a mile. Is another who has yet to race this distance, but looks to be in a battle for the last share of purse money.
Another one of this owners expensive purchases from Pan Farms, the bay filly was asked to compete in the Gr. III Selene Stakes up at WO in late September and she would manage a sixth plkace finish after being closer to the front end in distance earlier on. Has had a couple of month to possible be able to work out any issues her trainer feels were a concern, but looking at her two most recent CD mile works, she needs to find some speed here to stay close. 4th or 5th today.
Duffers Picks
3- My Mommy Is My Aunt....Will be looking to have the head bob in her favor at the line.
2- Blow Me To The Moon.....Hopefully the winds will " Blow " her just ahead at the wire.
1- Golden Chance.................Anything better then third will definitely be " Golden " for her.
From trackside
I'm Mc.D.
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