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Crown Heights takes BEL (GI) Like a Champion!
By
COZMAN
Jun 14, 2011,
7:48:27 PM
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6/11/2011 BEL Post Time 6:55EDT
RACE 7 BEL THE BEL (GI)
$1,000.000 3yo (Preference to TC-BEL Qualifications) 1 1/2m Dirt
Weight 126 lbs. Fillies 121 lbs.
Did sanity return in the end? Sent off as the near even money favorite, Barcelona Farms' Crown Heights has proven to be the top sophomore in all the land - and with all of the negative talk about this crop of 3yo's, the gray gelding has proven that not only is this talk bologna, he may be the best 3yo that HRP has ever seen. The track record wasn't just broken, it was lowered by nearly half a second in his two-length victory in Saturday's BEL (GI). With all of the talk of previous "super fillies", Mai Mia Bambina also has proven to be worthy of mentioning with the greats, and was a very game second today. 50/1 Tropical Lodge ran a huge race to be third, completing the $386.40 trifecta. In my opinion, this was the BEL of all BELs!
The field of fourteen left the gate in front of the capacity crowd, here in Elmont NY, with a trio going out for the lead. Iditarod Diademe from the outside, Team Spirit, Born A Banana, all showing good early speed. Tropical Lodge just behind that group, then a line up that included Crown Heights, Decaf Again from the rail, Risen Ruler and Alien Drive next to that one. Halfling from the far outside, False Passage on the rail, then Bach Stradivarius, Out Of The Park just behind that line. Watch 4 The Sailor was next, with Mai Mia Bambina away slowest of all.
Around the clubhouse turn, the opening half-mile in an honest :48.13, the outside horses were showing the speed with a mile to run. Halfling by a half length, Iditarod Diademe on his inside and Crown Heights on his outside. Gap of two back to Team Spirit on the rail, Risen Ruler next to that one, Back Stradivarius wide through the turn, and Mai Mia Bambina caught very wide. Three-quarters of a length back to Alien Drive, Born A Banana on the inside, then another length and a half to Tropical Lodge, Decaf Again on the rail, Watch 4 The Sailor four wide, False Passage just behind that trio, and Out Of The Park was the trailer, ten lenths from front to back.
Down the backside, six furlongs in 1:12.98, and as they neared the far turn with five furlongs to run, we had horses moving - Mai Mia Bambina up to take the lead. Halfling on the rail, Crown Heights next to that one. A length and a half back to Tropical Lodge, Idatarod Diademe skimmed the rail with Risen Ruler right next to him. Back Stradivarius, Alien Drive and Watch 4 The Sailor from the rail out. Born A Banana just in behind that group, Team Spirit saving ground, then a length to False Passage, Decaf Again between horses and Out Of The Park still at the back of the pack.
Swing around the far turn and into the lane, the people that had been sitting were now coming to their feet - only a quarter of a mile to greatness! The filly led them into the lane - Mai Mia Bambina by a neck, Crown Heights on her like a cheap suit, Tropical Lodge was not going away, despite his odds, Halfling looking a bit weary on the rail, but feeling the whip as this was no time to quit. Risen Ruler trying to dig in, False Passage down the center of the track - and the rest were fighting for the lives... it was now or never!
Now inside the furlong marker, Crown Heights up to take the lead by a half lengths, Mai Mia Bambina running her heart out, trying to find more... the rest were fighting for table scraps, but these two were putting on a show for the ages... true competition in it's rawest form!
Down to the final 150-yards and the wire, Crown Heights was not to be denied on this afternoon... no sloppy track, no 50-1 shots, no great filly... nothing was going to stop him from taking the carnations home, and he galloped out strongly under jockey R Bejarano, stopping the teltimer in a brilliant 2:29.37... a new track record... winning by two, and securing his spot in BEL history. Mai Mia Bambina proved to be a worthy opponent, and was a clear second by two lengths. Tropical Lodge ran far bigger than his 51/1 odds, taking the third spot by a head over Risen Ruler, giving Rouge River Stables two of the top four spots. Halfling was fifth, then Alien Drive, Out Of The Park closing a late gap to be seventh, Idatarod Diademe, False Passage in ninth, Born A banana, Decaf Again, Bach Stradivarius, Team Spirit and Watch 4 The Sailor closed out the field.
Crown Heights is a 3yo gray gelding by Hail Two Bob - Gold Heights, by HRP-Shirley Heights, and he was bred by his owner, Barcelona Farms, in Cal. Now showing seven wins and a pair of runner-up finishes from his nine lifetime starts, he has a staggering $1,896.650 in earnings. Congratulations to Barcelona Farms and Crown Heights, winners of the 2011 BEL Stakes!
$2 Mutuel Prices:
Track: Fast Time: :48
1:124 2:032 2:291 **New Track Record**
$1 Exacta: 13 - 12 Paid 39.30 $1 Trifecta: 13 - 12 - 4 Paid 386.40
Scratched: Echo Of
Darkness
RECAP Crown Heights rated just in behind the pace, responded when asked into the lane, took over nearing the furlong marker, edged clear late, won driving. Mai Mia Bambina broke in a tangle, gathered, rushed up into the clubhouse turn, pressed the pace to the lane, lead to the furlong marker, headed, could not keep pace with winner in the late stages. Tropical Lodge rated back early, worked through traffic to engage the leaders, could not stay with the top pair late, hung on for the show. Risen Ruler raced evenly throughout with no excuse. Halfling rushed from the gate, crossed over to lead through the clubhouse turn, headed while inside, tired. Alien Drive gave an even effort while no threat. Out Of The Park was wrestled back to trail, passed tired horses in the lane. Iditarod Diademe rushed from the gate, used up in the early pace, tired. False Passage trailed early, never involved. Born A Banana was outrun. Decaf Again saved ground while rated back, never fired. Bach Stradivarius was involved early, tired. Team Spirit showed speed for a half, stopped. Watch 4 The Sailor was outrun. Echo Of Darkness was declared.
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