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MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2019
by: Valerie Mellema
While there wasn't a ton of stakes racing this weekend, there were definitely some major upsets. Here's your weekend stakes wrap-up!
$600,000 Stephen Foster Handicap
TOM'S d'ETAT set the pace for the 12 horse field in the Stephen Foster Stakes with fractions of :24.60, :49.43 and 1:13.44. QUIP kept with him matching strides about a half length back. SEEKING THE SOUL took a perfect trip tracking the pair down the backstretch.
At the top of the stretch, QUIP caught up with TOM'S d'ETAT and took over the lead. SEEKING THE SOUL moved into third and powered down the stretch. With a sixteenth of a mile to go, he edged clear of the front runners and took the win. QUIP finished second followed by TOM'S d'ETAT. GIFT BOX finished fourth.
With the win, SEEKING THE SOUL stamped his ticket to the Breeders' Cup Classic this year, the race he just narrowly missed making the field on last year.
$150,000 Pegasus Stakes
In his first start since the controversial Kentucky Derby, MAXIMUM SECURITY broke poorly in the $150,000 Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park. Despite the bobble, he shot to the front and set opening fractions of 23.58 and 46.82. But wasting all that energy in the gates cost him in the long run. Under a tough ride through the far turn MAXIMUM SECURITY lost steam and KING FOR A DAY, who had been looming behind him, made his move and edged by late on the outside. DIRECT ORDER, another Jason Servis trainee finished third.
$100,000 Affirmed Stakes
Breaking from post six with Joe Talamo aboard, MUCHO GUSTO settled for fourth while VISITANT set the pace with a half-length lead through the first half mile. Settled three deep on the outside, MUCHO GUSTO made a bit to challenge in the far turn. He inched his way down the stretch and cleared the wire by 2 1/4 lengths to win with a final time of 1:45.15. ROADSTER finished second with VISITANT holding on for third. MANHATTAN UP, KINGLY and ALWAYS FORGIVE finished out the order.
$250,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap
At the break, SKEPTIC went to the lead while ELATE was boxed in by the field on the rail in fourth. Leading by a length with fractions of:25.02 and :489.70, SHE'S A JULIE stalked the pacesetter followed by BLUE PRIZE.
BLUE PRIZE shifted out three wide, providing Jose Ortiz the opportunity to get ELATE out of the traffic jam on the rail. Moving ELATE four wide, he asked her for more. SKEPTIC lost steam suddenly and SHE'S A JULIE maintained a short-lived lead. Rallying late, ELATE caught up with SHE'S A JULIE and BLUE PRIZE and battled it out to the wire. ELATE was able to drive past on the far outside and take the win by 1 1/2 lengths. The final time for the 1 1/8th mile was 1:50.33. BLUE PRIZE finished second and SHE'S A JULIE held on for third. Seven and a quarter lengths back were GO GOOGLE YOURSELF, AUSPICIOUS BABE and SKEPTIC to finish out the order.
$150,000 Matt Winn Stakes
In his first start since the Kentucky Derby undercard race, the Pat Day Mile Stakes, MR MONEY broke well and settled behind the pacesetter KNICKS GO. KNICKS GO set an opening quarter mile of :24.19. MR MONEY tracked the pace along the backstretch in the two-path. PROVERB followed closely in third.
Entering the far turn, Saez asked him for more and MR MONEY drove for the challenger. SIGNALMAN made tried to find the energy to chase down the leader and overtook KNICKS GO but did not have enough to make it to the wire. MR MONEY crossed the wire alone with a final time of 1:42.28. SIGNALMAN hung on for second with PROVERB in third.
Have a great week!
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