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Prk-2009 So, Who Do You "Like Now"?
By
McDuffy
May 17, 2009,
1:24:01 PM
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May 16th, 2009 Pimlico Race Course Race #7
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PIM 7 The Grade I PRK Stakes
$1,000.000 For Three Year olds Mile and three sixteenths Main Track
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The third Saturday in May now in the history book, and Top brass at HRP placing their cheque book back in the drawer for another season, the Second jewel of the Triple Crown will see once again, another Kentucky Derby winner unable to repeat in this gruelling task of three major events, and a new star rise to the top of the hit parade.
With six Graded stakes events all ready completed, the true attraction on the day was to see if EasyMoney Stables Ghost Walker could use his charge to the wire talent in the Derby, make it pay dividends here. Surprising to most handicappers when they seen the morning line, that he would go off at 20-1 odds? Maybe the trackman who was setting the odds, was still feeling the effects from their mint juleps from two weeks prior. The track was listed as muddy, similar to the conditions on Derby Day.
But on this day, the event that is the pride of the Pimlico race course, a horse from the widest post in the field would make his presence felt in the final going, and capture the glory of Maryland. That horse would be Emerald Racing Inc's Like Now. Befitting that with the name of Emerald in the owners title, that he would walk away with one of the jewels.
As the crowd was all eager to watch as these fourteen fine thoroughbreds would break from the starting gate at the top of the stretch, each trainer was still going through his mine, " Did I do all I can to get him ready?"
As the field broke from the gate, Blushing Meadows Sweet Talkin Jed (23.85) was away quickly as he had done in the Derby and was soon joined and passed by Sarah Stables Sub Zero ( 8.55) as the pair hit the wire for the first time. Diablo Diablo's entry Break Dancer (9.80) was trying to find a better position for the opening turn in third, with his stablemate and post favorite Laffin Policeman (2.75) and Golden Oaks Stables Blackberry Road (30.90) sitting just to that ones outside. Derby winner Ghost Walker (7.00) sat between horses jump behind.
Through the clubhouse turn and on to the backstretch, and Sub Zero and Sweet Talkin Jed were still just heads apart. Ghost Walker started to edge ahead of the field slightly into third, two lengths back, with Saratoga Stud's Tartan Bearer ( 38.90) being able to use the advantage of the rail through the turn and progress up to fourth. Laffin Policeman sat in fifth to the outside, with Maximas Sack Avram Grant's jockey Prado staying focused on Ghost Walker in sixth. Back of these were early challenger Break Dancer who had trouble through the turn in seventh, while poised on the outside was Emerald Racing Inc' Like Now (5.80) keen on stalking the field for his late run to the front. Ninth would be Whitewater Stables Western Red Cedar (13.25), another who likes to close in the later stages, with Barcelona Farms La Tache (15.15) who many had though would be close to the front early to challenge.
After an opening half mile in a time of 48.24, and the three quarter time going in 1:13.76, the field was three eigths of a mile from the wire through the turn, and Sweet Talkin Jed had pulled out in front by a length and a half over a now closer Ghost Walker. Sub Zero was desperately trying to stay close to the front, but his speed was used up and he would eventually fade to finish tenth on the day. Tartan Bearer still had the advantage of the shorter trip along the rail and was still fighting gamely in fourth, with Laffin Policman still hoping their was some reserves in the tank for the stretch run. Sack Avram Grant (5.65) was sixth, with Like Now up to seventh.
Down the stretch the field would come, with an eigth of a mile to run, and Sweet Talkin Jed had his hands full of the Derby winner Ghost Walker. The crowd was screaming for Ghost Walker to pull in front of the Blushing Meadows entry before they hit the wire. Closing sharply to their extreme outside was Like Now, just slightly over a length back and full of run to the front. Tartan Bearer was off the rail looking to make his mark in fourth, with Laffin Policeman still fighting gamely down the stretch, while Western Red Cedar was sneaking up along the inside.
At the wire stopping the clock in 1:59.15, and with a very impressive late run in the final goings, Emerald Racing Inc's Like Now would be added to the record books as the sixth winner of the PRK Stakes. Sweet Talkin Jed would hold off the Kentucky Derby winner in a brilliant battle to the wire, as Ghost Walker would settle for the show purse on the day. Sitting fourth throughout most of this event would be Tartan Bearer, who used the advantage of the rail, and that helped him bring home the final payout money. Laffin Policeman would finish sixth on the day, as the closing talents of Western Red Cedar would get him up to fifth. After racing throughout most of this event at the back of the field until the final three furlongs, Meat's Rebellion ( 29.65) closed to finish seventh. Eighth would go to Sack Avram Grant, who many in the racing world were picking as their choice to win, and he may be questionable for the Belmont Stakes going the longer distance. Ken Allan's Faithful Spirit (78.45) would show a little life in the final going to get ninth, with Sub Zero rounding out the top ten.
The final four would be La Tache, Blackberry Road, Break Dancer and finally Alydar Stables Social Reject (49.15) who has trailed in both event so far, and most likely the soft footing is not to his liking.
For Like Now, this victory has been his fourth of five events this sophomore season, with his only bad perfromance coming in the Derby, having to try to overcome a eighteenth post position start. His owner, could not have been happier with this victory. " Thanks to all those fans who have had the faith in him," he told me following the victory, " and to all those who bet on him, because it sure wasnt me placing all that money down."
At Pimlico, the glory of the day for the horse is the placing of the blanket of black eyed susans ( which really are daisies that are dabbed with black laquer because the Susans dont bloom till June) over his shoulders as he enters the ceremonial winners circle. Another tradition, is the painting of the winning horses colors on the weather vane on top of the replica Old Clubhouse, and those colors remain their until the following year. So in keeping with the real tradition, I felt it only be fitting that the same tradition should be honored here at HRP as well, so for Emerald Racing Inc, congratulations on a excellent ride and victory, and may your colors stand until next year.
Payout Prices
14- Like Now 13.60 28.80 23.10
4- Sweet Talkin Jed 12.10 8.40
3- Ghost Walker 4.60
$1 Ex. ( 14-4) paid 573.20 $1 Tri ( 14-4-3) returned 4,079.30
From Trackside
I'm Mc. D.
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