McKnight Handicap Grade II
For Three Year Olds And Upward
Going a Mile and a Half on the Turf Course
For a purse of $150.000
at Calder Race Course
on Saturday November 26, 2011
Dark Nevada broke on top in this field of five. Jeffrey Sachez in the saddle, and would open the half mile in :49 and two fifths. A nice opening half mile for this type of race. Sanchez just keep Dark Nevada walking through the quarters to the three quarters in 1:13 and three fifths. With no real challengers at this point, he brings the field to a mile and a quarter with a time of 2:01 and four fifths. Dark Nevada goes on to wire the field to cover the mile and a half over the sod in 2:26.28 for owner Ken Allan. This win today earns Dark Nevada his second Graded Stakes win and brings his career earnings to $332.620.
Raise A Cowboy broke out of the gate to be fourth, spotting the field only a length and three quarters. At the half mile the lead increase to him giving up two and a quarter lengths. When the field went into the Club House for the and into the back stretch for the second time Raise A Cowboy started to make a move to be third. Into the stretch he would continue to rally to find running room between Dark Nevada and Isla de Piedra to finish second for owner Chili King Stables.
Frankly My Dear broke to be last of the five. Most would probably have counted him out as he spotted the field as many as ten lengths at the half. As the field moved down the back stretch and into the far turn for the final time, he started to make move to be fourth, and now only five lengths from the leader. Into the stretch he rallied to get up to be third by finding running room between Raise A Cowboy and Isla de Piedra.
Isla de Piedra was in the mix early as he broke to be third at the quarter, but soon would be pressing the pace from second. He would hold this position until the field reached the stretch. There were four horses all making a move in the stretch. There was such a close finish in the top four finishers that only 6 hundredths of a second separate the four horses. Isla de Piedra would be outran to finish fourth for owner Rockitpad.
Arctic Xerxes was in the mix early as he broke to be second at the opening quarter. As the field moved to the half mile he started t fade, and would continue to fade. After the mile he gave way to finish fifth for owner Ekli Stable.
Until next time this is Iwin signing off!
