VA Oaks-GIII
7/16/2011 CNL Race #3 1 1/8m Turf Graded Stake Purse $150.000 For Fillies Three Years Old
Simply Excellent spent some time away from the winners circle, but this weekend she reacquainted herself in fashion. The Ken Allan homebred took command early and lead the way home to win her first graded stakes in the GIII VA Oaks. Her time for the 1 11/8 mile turf course was 1:47.93, besting that of previous stakes record winner Serenitime, who won here in 2009 with a time of 1:48.07. Holier Than Thou was second while Cinderella Story took home the show money.
Holier Than Thou broke alertly to set the early pace when the bell rang. Breaking from the outside number seven hole, the gray filly angled in to run the lead on the rail. Cinderella Story and Simply Excellent moved with her, the latter taking a brief lead on the outside in the clubhouse turn. Ballroom Dancer and Magical Journey stalked the pace two lengths back. Queen Victory ran the rail another two lengths back while Blonde Au Pair trailed the field.
Holier Than Thou regained the lead as the field entered the backstretch. Simply Excellent continued to pressure her one-half length back with Cinderella Story right at her heels. Magical Journey and Ballroom Dancer raced evenly in mid pack with Queen Victory still behind them and Blonde Au Pair well back in last.
Just before the turn, Simply Excellent regained the lead once more, with Holier Than Thou stubbornly clinging to her side, refusing to yield. Ballroom Dancer and Cinderella Story moved up to join the pair and soon the four fillies were leading the way as the field turned for home. Magical Journey found her way blocked by the front-runners while Queen Victory was forced five wide trying to get into contention.
Simply Excellent maintained her slim lead as the field hit the stretch. Holier Than Thou continued to pressure her on the rail with Cinderella Story challenging her on the outside. Ballroom Dancer was a half-length back with Magical Journey angling in to the rail to find racing room. Queen Victory came up empty in the straight as Au Pair continued to trail.
A few more steps and it was over. Simply Excellent prevailed to win by a half-length over the game Holier Than Thou, with Cinderella Story holding off Magical Journey for third.
Simply Excellent is a chestnut filly by His Excellency out of Box One. Ken Allan bred the tall chestnut in Kentucky. She broke her maiden last summer and followed it up with her first stakes victory in The Johnson. Her win in the VA Oaks is her second black type score and first graded win. Her record now improves to 10-3-0-3 with $266.860 in earnings
Here is the race recap:
Simply Excellent pushed the pace throughout to prevail at the wire by a half-length. Holier Than Thou broke sharply on the outside, angled in to the rail and challenged the winner to the wire to just miss in a game performance. Cinderella Story raced evenly throughout in a close finish. . Magical Journey was blocked in the turn while trying to rally from mid pack and had little to give when free in the straight. Ballroom Dancer stalked early and then rallied in the turn, but could not get past the rest. Queen Victory showed little early, was forced wide turning for home and then came up empty. Blonde Au Pair
was outrun early.
Track: Firm
Time: :482 1:12 1:353 1:474
$2 Mutuel Prices:
$1 Exacta: 1 - 7 Paid 36.20
$1 Trifecta: 1 - 7 - 6 Paid 107.60
Scratched: None
