Ginger Punch, winner of a 2007 Eclipse Award, made her move on the far turn around Peach Flambe to open up a dominating lead in the stretch and an eventual 6 3/4 length victory in her first race of the 2008 season. The 1 1/8 mile race went in 1:49.14, with Ginger Punch returning $2.60 for the win.
The victory was fitting considering Ginger Punch’s owner, Frank Stronach, is the mastermind behind the Sunshine Millions day, which pits Florida and California breds against one another in an 8 race series with races at both Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita. Thankfully the weather provided enough of a respite for the major races of the day to be run and the avoidance of a much feared cancellation of the Santa Anita card. The Daily Racing Form is reporting that trainer Bobby Frankel has indicated Ginger Punch will be next pointed towards the Grade 1 Santa Margarita at Santa Anita on March 9.
In the main event of the day, the $1 Million Classic at Santa Anita, Go Between scored the upset by running down and holding off Celtic Dreamin’ in the stretch to score for trainer Bill Mott. Bilo set the pace early on, but as the field turned for home a wall of horse came charging to the front, and Go Between would not be denied. It sounds like the track announced got a little confused between Electrify and Go Between in the video clip below.
In other racing action Saturday, highly regarded Nashoba’s Key was defeated by Quite a Bride in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf. Nashoba’s Key was never able to get going against Quite a Bride who sat a comfortable trip at the front of the pack the whole way around the track.
“She was too far back off a slow pace,” trainer Carla Gaines said. “She got to the winner after the wire. I would have preferred a win.”
Placid Lake, who was a horse I used in my pre-race handicapping, finished 3rd after being listed at 20/1 in the morning line.
Benny the Bull took the Sunshine Millions Sprint at Gulfstream Park for $500,000, finishing in 1:08.48. The Daily Racing Form is reporting that Benny will be next targeting the Grade 1 Carter at Aqueduct.
Bob Black Jack set a word record sprinting 6 furlongs in 1:06.53 in the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Dash.
Ginger Punch!!!! I told you I told you I told you!!
YES!
I picked one I picked on! Go me!
Next?
Indeed – she’s a good one. Top older female right now and she looked pretty good in her 2008 debut yesterday. Looks like we’ll see her again in March now in the Santa Margarita.
If Frankel isn’t blowing smoke and this horse really is doing better than last year she is going to be awful tough. Hopefully Zenyatta lives up to the hype and perhaps a horse like Magnificience ( Bruce Headley trainer horse who made a big splash last spring/winter ) could shake up the division a bit.
Are you familiar with Magnificience? If not try to find her maiden race on Youtube, it is one of the most impressive looking races I’ve ever seen. More so than Curlin’s.
Magnificence – oh yeah, I know her. She beat Swiss Diva last year in a Grade 3 at Santa Anita. I think that’s the first time I noticed her. I think I saw her maiden replay on TVG that day.
I meant to say one of the most impressive maiden races I’ve ever seen but regardless, it was very impressive.
hi kstaff –
thought you might like to read this:
http://msn.foxsports.com/horseracing/story/7732414?MSNHPHMA
“Barbaro’s ashes to rest at Churchill Downs”
~Diss
Diss – awesome story, although as usual I’ve got to ignore the comments at the bottom (I can’t believe some of the horrific things people would say about a hero like Barbaro……dang Club Penguiners if you ask me!)
I’ll probably do a post on this tonight and hat tip back to you. I’ve been meaning to do something on Barbaro and was actually looking for a good occassion to do so. Have some family matters to attend to first though.
Phil – I know what you mean buddy! How’s the blogging going? Some of the guys that comment here (Diss, Sulz, and Raincoaster) are awesome at any support questions you might have in the forums. I put a post up in one of the off topic threads the other day asking folks to check you out and show you some wordpress friendliness. We do have a niche subject though that tends to lose/overwhelm newcomers. Once you’ve been going for a few months you should see about joining up with the TBA. There’s some great horse-bloggers there!
Its going ok. I learn a little everyday about the setup and function of it.
Sometimes I have trouble finding the time to type up big analysis of Laurels card or the days major races but the plays of the day have been going ok.
I’ve read all the TBA blogs at one time or another as far as I can tell and have picked a few that I follow daily or with every update.
Finding time to blog is the biggest challenge by far. It’s almost impossible for me to review races and blog about them on work days anymore. Hopefully that slows down a bit this summer.