It's Out There took the early lead, pursued by Cape Royale. Rockland (Smarty Jones) was sitting off the early pace, in 5th. He swung outside surged past the leaders. Cape Royale ran on well, but he couldn't catch Rockland whose professionalism continues to impress. In his young career, he has a 2nd on the Polytrack, a win on the dirt, and a win on the turf. There seems to be a lot of options for the chestnut son of Smarty Jones.
Result: December 20, 2008
Calder Race 6
Allowance
| Rockland |
$7.20 |
$4.80 |
$3.40 |
| Cape Royale |
|
$8.00 |
$4.80 |
| It's Out There |
|
|
$3.40 |
Equibase Chart
Leigh McLovin Hugs It Out in the Letellier
Leigh McLovin took command early, but Hug It Out (Medaglia d'Oro) wasn't far back. She made a move wide on the turn, but couldn't sustain it. Meanwhile, A Day for Dancing, who was unhurried early, began moving. She passed Hug It Out to take second. But neither of these was gaining on Leigh McLovin, who expanded her lead to win by 4.
Result: December 20, 2008
Fair Grounds Race 5
Letellier Memorial Stakes
| Leigh McLovin |
$5.60 |
$3.20 |
$2.60 |
| A Day for Dancing |
|
$4.00 |
$2.80 |
| Hug It Out |
|
|
$3.00 |
View Race Details and Equibase Chart
Harvey Sings the Victory Tune Over Masqued Tsaar
Be a Pal broke on top, but was soon headed by Harvey's Symphony. Those two were together until the stretch, when Harvey's Symphony drew off to a 3 length victory. Jor El was gaining late, but settled for third. Masqued Tsaar (Saarland) showed little in this one, passing a couple late to finish 9th.
Result: December 20, 2008
Philadelphia Park Race 1
Maiden Claiming
| Harvey's Symphony |
$14.20 |
$8.00 |
$5.40 |
| Be a Pal |
|
$8.60 |
$6.40 |
| Jor El |
|
|
$6.40 |
Equibase Chart
Just for Annika Floating On Air
Just for Annika emerged with the lead, but Floating On Air (Peace Rules) was sticking right to her. These two raced as a team into the stretch, when Just for Annika began to pull away. Floating On Air held 2nd for awhile more, but then went back into the field, finishing 8th. Lokomamma and Go Hide and Watch both made up good ground late to take 2nd and 3rd.
Result: December 20, 2008
Fair Grounds Race 2
Maiden Claiming
| Just for Annika |
$6.60 |
$4.00 |
$3.00 |
| Lokomamma |
|
$19.20 |
$11.60 |
| Go Hide and Watch |
|
|
$7.00 |
Equibase Chart
Oyster Cat is no Class Flirt
Anasheed Class and Class Flirt (Pleasantly Perfect) broke through the gate before the start. Class Flirt was stopped quickly by Shaun Bridgmohan, while Anasheed Class was corralled skillfully by an outrider (who got a nice hand from the crowd). They were both reloaded into the gate. Southern Region set the early pace, pestered by Oyster Cat, with Rabbit Tracks following in third. Class Flirt was in a good spot, but was flat in the stretch and lost ground. Southern Region could not shake free from Oyster Cat, and that one eventually wore him down to take the victory. Interesting that the two that broke through the gate, Class Flirt and Anasheed Class, finished 10th and 11th.
Result: December 20, 2008
Fair Grounds Race 10
Maiden Special Weight
| Oyster Cat |
$6.60 |
$4.00 |
$3.00 |
| Southern Region |
|
$6.40 |
$4.80 |
| Rabbit Tracks |
|
|
$4.80 |
View Race Detals and Equibase Chart
An Attended Point Made Against Congaree Park
There was an early scramble up front, but Point Attended emerged with the lead. Congaree Park (Congaree) was at the back of the leadng group, but didn't have much punch in the stretch, finishing 6th. Up front, Point Attended established a clear lead. But, Turk was coming with a rush. At the end, Point Attended held on, but by just a nose. Turk definitely looks like one to watch next time.
Result: December 20, 2008
Hollywood Race 6
Maiden Special Weight
| Point Attended |
$13.40 |
$5.60 |
$3.80 |
| Turk |
|
$4.20 |
$3.20 |
| Black Feather |
|
|
$9.00 |
View Race Detals and Equibase Chart
Kiss Mine Holds off Verdant
Tape Delay and Out of Reality dueled early, but were finished after 6 furlongs. At that point, Poplar Girl, who had been sitting just off the leaders, took command. But she could not hold off a surging Kiss Mine. Verdant (Pleasantly Perfect) was near the back on the rail early. She came rolling 5-wide and picked off her opponents. She flattened out in the stretch a bit and couldn't catch the winner, but she was clear of the rest. This was a nice race for Verdant, who seems to have figured things out. She shouldn't be a maiden much longer.
Result: December 20, 2008
Turfway Park Race 12
Maiden Special Weight
| Kiss Mine |
$20.60 |
$9.60 |
$5.00 |
| Verdant |
|
$5.40 |
$3.80 |
| Poplar Girl |
|
|
$6.20 |
View Race Detals and Equibase Chart
Mr. Directions Takes a Treck Over Precious Beans
River Treck (Congaree) broke inwardly, but still went after the early lead. The opening quarter was fairly quick (:22.93), but the subsequent fractions were rather ordinary (:47.74, 1:14.56). River Treck was pursued by Spirit's Back, but that one gave up after a half. Precious Beans (Medaglia d'Oro) was in a good spot in 5th. He began rolling on the outside and looked for a moment like he would go on by. But, Mr. Directional was also moving outside of Precious Beans. Mr. Directional surged into the lead, leaving both River Treck and Precious Beans behind.
Result: December 20, 2008
Delta Downs Race 1
Maiden Special Weight
| Mr. Directional |
$23.20 |
$11.80 |
$4.40 |
| River Treck |
|
$4.20 |
$2.60 |
| Precious Beans |
|
|
$2.20 |
Equibase Chart
Other Results for December 20
Cradle of Peace (colt; Peace Rules) was part of the early pace, but tired and finished 5th (last) on a muddy track at Laurel in race 2, a 7 furlong claiming contest. Cradle of Peace was claimed out of the race.
Western Fire (colt; Speightstown) finished 6th in Race 8 at Delta Downs, a first-level allowance race. It's hard to say anything more about his race than that, as it was extremely foggy. I watched the race and never caught a glimpse of him.
