RGD Stakes-GIII

7/9/2011   DEL   Race #2   1 3/8m   Turf   Graded Stake 

Purse $200.000 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward

Some of the best distaff long sod runners were on hand today for the third running of the GIII RGD. The result was a thrilling affair, with champion mare Pheasant Plucker driving home to hand owner Ken Allan his second RGD trophy in track record time. The tall bay mare ran the 1 3/8 turf course in 2:13.34.

Allan won here last year with the now retired graded stakes mare Faithful Companion.

Sophomore sensation Fine As Wine made a bold move running against her older rivals in the RGD. She broke sharply on the rail to set the early lead. Dark Shine moved out with her, helping to push the pace.

Pheasant Plucker and fellow veteran stakes mare Nancy Grace, stalked the pair one length back.  Floral Design and Trial By Jury cruised along another two lengths behind them.

Fine As Wine led the way past the grandstand and into the clubhouse turn. Dark Shine fell back in the bend as Pheasant Plucker moved up to pressure Fine As Wine. Meanwhile, Floral Design surged forward to mid pack, leaving Trial By Jury trailing the field alone by two lengths.

Fine As Wine continued to lead the way down the backstretch, with Pheasant Plucker shadowing her at her side. Just before the turn for home, Trial By Jury began to rally. She was forced out four wide in the turn to get around Nancy Grace, Dark Shine and Floral Design.

The field hit the top of the stretch with Fine As Wine stubbornly clinging to the slimmest of leads over Pheasant Plucker. Floral Design slipped in on the rail and charged forward as Trial By Jury lugged out following her wide trip. Both Dark Shine and Nancy Grace faded and fell back at the top of the stretch.

Pheasant Plucker wore down Fine As Wine to take the lead with one furlong to go. Floral Design was flying fast on the rail and moved up to pressure her.  Trial By Jury came up empty after her wide trip and with Fine As fading fast; it quickly became a two horse race. Floral Design pushed hard but she could not get past the leader. Pheasant Plucker crossed the wire to win by three quarters of a length over Floral Design, with Trial By Jury getting the show money.

Pheasant Plucker is a five year old multiple graded stakes winning autogen mare developed by owner Ken Allan. The RGD stakes was her first 2011 black type score and her third win in a row. Her record now improves to 14-8-4-1 with $589.360 in earnings.

Here is the race recap:

Pheasant Plucker stalked the pace then took the lead in the straight to win driving. Floral Design closed late to finish a close second. Trial By Jury was in contention but lugged out and flattened after a wide trip turning for home. Fine As Wine broke sharply to lead nearly throughout until fading late. Dark Shine pushed the pace early then tired midway. Nancy Grace stalked the pace and then quit at the top of the stretch.

Race #2 18:25 RGD - Grade III 1 3/8 Mile Turf Stake Purse $200.00 Filly & Mare 3 Year Olds And Up.

##		Horse Name	Owner Name	Jockey	Odds		Fin	Time	SRF
2		Pheasant Plucker	Ken Allan	Carmouche K	3.25		13/4	2:13.34
4		Floral Design	Spongebob	Pimentel J	3.10		21	2:13.50
6		Trial By Jury	Cajun Stables	Caraballo J C	4.10		31/4	2:13.76
1		Fine As Wine	Second Chance Farms	Napravnik R	26.20		44	2:13.85
5		Dark Shine	Cajun Stables	Castellano A Jr	3.85		51	2:14.65
3		Nancy Grace	Australia Wide	Rose J	2.75		6	2:14.94

Track: Firm
Time: :50 1:14² 1:38 2:13¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

2 - Pheasant Plucker	8.50	4.60	3.20
4 - Floral Design		3.20	3.40
6 - Trial By Jury			3.10

$1 Exacta: 2 - 4 Paid 22.20
$1 Trifecta: 2 - 4 - 6 Paid 45.70

Scratched: None