August 15th, 2009 Ellis Park Race # 11
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ELP 11 Gardenia Handicap ( Gr. III )
$100.000 Fillies and Mares Three Years old and up 1 Mile Dirt
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Now into its seventh year of competition, Millionaire Stables became the first back to back winner of the Gr. III Gardenia Handicap with six to one odds Better Miss. The victory would now be this owner/trainers ninth Grade III victory and bring his total Graded titles to sixteen.
As for Better Miss ( 6.50), it would be her first stakes title in seven career starts. She now has won five straight route events and it will be highly unlikely that we will see her attempt any sprint events in the near future. Her speed figure for this race was a 97, and she just seems to be getting better with each start. After a slower third quarter of 25.14, it set the race up for her to finish strong with a final 24.53 final quarter.
Runner-up to Better Miss would be Small Heath Alliance's Elizabeth Swann ( 7.75) who seemed to stalk the pace from four lengths back throughout most of the race, then making a move in the final furlong to miss by a length. Showing some late kick in some six panel sprint events, its obvious that she has the ability to compete at both levels.
Third would be Dynark Stables Cracked Actor ( 3.25) who also sat off the pace until the turn for home, then made up ground in the final goings out five wide late to also miss in a photo with Elizabeth Swann by a neck to the runner-up.She already has the Cascapedia Stakes title tucked neatly away, and it shouldnt be too long till she gains a Graded title.
Post-time favorite Wynnewood's Blue Eleanor ( 1.80) remains winless this season in all her Graded level tries finishing fourth here, and she may need to take a drop to a stakes level or upper Alw company event to rebuild this ones confidence and get her back to her winning form. Her trainer definite has the credentials with ten top three finishes in sixteen stakes events this season, so this four year old grey is in good hands.
The final finishers were Drabfantasy's Nearco Dame ( 3.85) who press the pace early with front runner Crank Is The Best ( 9.45), but has only four starts in her career, and experience will pay off later on. Bush Wackers Of Ohio's Crank Is The Best tried to put this field to sleep with a slower third quarter pace, but she would fade down the lane to finish sixth. The final runner would be longshot Aml Racing's Scissor Pass ( 23.65) maintaining her effort for the opening three quarters, then she faded drastically to fourteen lengths back at the wire.
Fractional Times: 23.35 47.22 1:12.36 1:36.89
Payout Prices
6- Better Miss 15.00 7.70 4.20
7- Elizabeth Swann 8.40 4.60
4- Cracked Actor 3.10
$1 Exa ( 6-7) 73.20 $1 Tri ( 6-7-4) 786.20
From Trackside
I'm Mc.D.
