It was a case of making hay while the sun shines in Friday’s Juvenile Classic Qualifier for 2yo Colts. Just 24 hours after Inxs had sent out Dakota Celery to win the Juvenile Stayers Qualifier, the owner made the decision to make the most of the favorable muddy dirt track conditions on course in America and let his star colt take his chance again.
Dakota Celery has now won two Juvenile Stayers Qualifiers with both victories coming in the mud. With the surface ideal, the only question was the suitability to the 2200m distance – the bay colt’s only previous attempt in a Classic Qualifier produced a fourth placed finish but the ground was riding firm that day. Also in the field was old rival, Raymond’s Pride who ran down the field behind Dakota Celery yesterday but had previously run him a close second.
The distance proved to be no problem at all for Dakota Celery today, travelling well throughout he could be picked as the likely winner some way from home. Raymond’s Pride did better on this occasion and snatched second place but neither McKinleys‘ colt or Evil Racing Ltd‘s third placed Ap Earthquake ever really looked like they could seriously trouble the winner who won with something in hand.
A fascinating line-up went to post for the Juvenile Classic Qualifier for 2yo Fillies. Maiden winner, Pool Party, the subject of a $2155 auction sale was making her racecourse debut for her new owner, Filante Stables. Chrisman’s filly, Chromium, already the winner of one Classic Qualifier and Gnb Racing’s promising Bank Note, last time out winner of a Sprint Qualifier. Add in Cepat Kaya’s Flying Diva and Jekegr Stables’ Tabak Especial to the mix and we had a race to savor.
Pool Party, wearing blinkers for the first time had the run of the race and had every chance with Jack Ford in the plate and would do well to hold form with third placed Bank Note, should they meet again on the same terms. In the end though neither could repel Chrisman’s Chromium from completing her second qualifier victory and her fourth win in seven career starts. Chromium now holds a six point lead at the head of the standings.
Later in the day, the top three year old sprinters took to the track for the Triple Crown Sprint Qualifiers. In the colts’ event, prolific winner Secret Beast made it twelve wins from forty career starts for owner Fullhouse. He got the better of Tango King (AB) and Delta Intrusion to net this $200 added prize.
The fillies’ division saw Cepat Kaya gain ample compensation for missing out earlier in the day when Fancy Diva readily outpointed Tri M Fent’s Spectacular Liz with Languedoc Stables’ Secret Queen holding third. Fancy Diva has been in fine form of late and was completing her third win from her last four outings. As a footnote, Whymea Farms’ Mass Deception could manage only fifth here but she met all kinds of trouble in running and will likely be making amends before too long.
