Hooper Handicap Grade III
For Three Year Olds And Upward
Going a Mile and an Eighth on the Dirt Course
For a purse of $100.000
at Calder Race Course
on Saturday November 26, 2011
Spanish Colony was the big favorite as the field all lined up for the Hooper Handicap. When the gates opened he broke to be fourth, a six length break between him and the leader. He would sit there in fourth until the the field hit the beginning of the back stretch. At the three quarters of a mile marker he was fourth by three lengths. As the field turned for home he continued to rally and would be fourth only a length and a half from the leader. With just a furlong to go jockey Joe Bravo would split Two Under and Eight Alarm Fire in the stretch to get up and be cleared by four for the win. He covered the mile and an eighth in 1:49.20 for owner GlueFactory. This win today gives Spanish Colony his third Graded Stakes win and brings his total earnings to $586.700.
Cj Charger broke out on top, and would bring the field to opening half mile in a very moderate :47 and four fifths. He would continue on the lead the the beginning of the far turn where he turned in a three quarters of a mile time in 1:12 and one fifth. This quarter went in :24 and two fifths. Once again decent fractions. As the field headed to the mile and into the stretch Cj Charger still held onto the lead to bring the field to the mile in 1:37 flat. Thats a :25 and one fifth seconds. This showed that he was starting to slow down, but he had enough in the tank to hold off the rest except for the winner Spanish Colony. Cj Charger would finish second for owner Maverick Racing.
Two Under pressed Cj Charger right from the start. He held that second place position throughout the first six furlongs. As the field turned into the stretch he moved up to be nose to nose with Cj Charger. In the stretch he would try to hold on but Cj Charger was a whisker better, and Two Under would finish third for owner Chili King Stables.
Eight Alarm Fire broke to be third and a length and a half from the pacesetter. As the field traveled through the quarters he would sit the trip right off the pace in third. In the stretch jockey D Centeno started to demand more and he just did not have enough in the tank and would go on to finish fourth for owner Maverick Racing.
Pip Boy broke fifth from the gate, and would never get into the race to be last of them all throughout the quarters. He would finish fifth for owner Chili King Stables.
Buster Brick LATE SCRATCH
Until next time this is Iwin signing off!
