CT Juvenile

9/18/2010 CT   Race #3   7f   Dirt   Stake Purse $107.500 (includes $7.500 added stakes) For Two Year Olds

The second running of the CT Juveniles proved a showcase for recent auction purchases as Eight Alarm Fire and Kipper, two of four recently acquired sale colts, finished one-two in a field of nine.

The race at times resembled the Harbor Freeway in LA, especially in the turn as several horses began their rally just as others in the front began to tire. Some were caught in traffic while others were taken wide. For those on or near the lead that could carry their speed, Lady Luck was more evident.

Emporio Armani broke quickly to take the early lead. So Pretty was just as quick to join him on the outside pushing the pace. Eight Alarm Fire got away alertly and stalked the leaders on the rail, with Paisano Phil doing the same in the middle of the track. Further back were Indian Lou and Montalcino, while Kipper, Z Cars and Gaucho hung back in the early going.

Emporio Armani tired in the turn, allowing So Pretty to take over in front. Meanwhile, rush hour traffic wreaked havoc as the late runners began their moves simultaneously. Paisano Phil was trapped behind the front runners with nowhere to go. Z Cars, who was back early, rallied right into the traffic jam as well. Kipper, another late runner, managed to avoid the traffic but was forced five wide in the turn. Indian Lou tried to move up on the rail and was solidly blocked. Montalcino and Gaucho were left unscathed but neither was in the mix today.

 So Pretty tired on the lead as the field hit the top of the stretch. Eight Alarm Fire, stalking on the rail in the clear, quickly took over in front. Despite his wide turn, Kipper was pouring it on and closing well to try to catch him. Paisano Phil and Z Cars got free from traffic midstretch, but both had a tough time getting their checked rallies back in gear. Eight Alarm Fire went on to win by a length, with Kipper just getting second by a nose over Paisano Phil. Z Cars finished fourth half a length back.

Eight Alarm Fire is a two-year-old colt by Bungalow Eight out of Bombay Siren. He was bred by Blushing Meadows in California and sold at auction to Maverick Racing one week ago for $230.010. The tall good-looking gray made his black type debut in the CT Juvenile. His win yesterday improves his record to 3-2-1-0 with $104.130 in earnings.

Here is the race recap:

Eight Alarm Fire stalked the pace on the rail then took the lead at the top of the stretch to win by a length. Kipper broke on the outside, dropped back early, then rallied five wide in the turn to finish second by a nose. Paisano Phil stalked the pace, was trapped in traffic through the turn then held for third. Z Cars was back early, rallied into traffic in the turn and could not improve when clear. Emporio Armani led from the break then tired in the turn. So Pretty pushed the pace early, took over the lead in the turn, and then faded in the straight. Indian Lou raced mid pack on the rail, closed up into traffic and was empty when clear. Montalcino never factored. Gaucho was outrun early.

Track: Fast
Time: :22⁴  :46³  1:11⁴  1:25¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 - 9 Paid 39.60
$1 Trifecta: 1 - 9 - 5 Paid 198.20

Scratched: None