YES, SHE WON AGAIN!
23 Grade 1’s, 31 straight wins for WINX
Essentially there was just one horse in the field that WINX met last night for the Grade 1 Chipping Norton as the other starters were stablemates and apparently they were well out-matched. Poor old HAPPY CLAPPER, a tough gelding who has chased Winx almost a dozen times over three years tried new tactics last night in the 1 mile turf race but he could not make it work.
No question, any horse that can win that many Grade 1’s and that many races in succession is a legend. These days, however, no one wants to race against her so there is not much in the way of competition for the 8-year-old by Street Cry (Ire) who is likely in her last season of racing.
If you owned her, why not keep her at home and enjoy the winning streak (and the prize money). She is a rangy bay ATM for her connections and trainer Chris Waller.
Last night’s race, other than a very sweaty Happy Clapper (I would be nervous too), the competition lagged behind almost immediately and were never in the race. So, while there is not doubt that the great Winx beat some great horses on her way through this journey but now, the results are never in doubt as long as she only competes against her buddies in her own barn.
**Yesterday’s Thoroughblog post MARCH has previews for some big races today including the Barbados Gold Cup, post time 3:30 EST**
RAINBOW 6 CARRYOVER $550k ON BIG DAY AT GULFSTREAM
A fascinating edition of the FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH STAKES (G2), a personal favourite, is part of a tough Rainbow 6 wager today at Gulfstream. races 9 to 14 include a maiden turf race and a maiden dirt race.
RACE 9 – Looks like the toughest race of the sequence. Some well bred first-time starters and some fillies who have shown talent in few starts.
In order of preference –
4 – Our Law – Gary Barber just bought this filly off nice debut when she was almost 100 to 1. Galloped out well in a 5 furlong race, big workout time on Feb 16.
13 – Choate Bridge – Tough post, decent debut last summer
9 Prosperite – first timer for Pletcher
2 Call to Victory – first time starter by really good turf sire Jimmy Creed
12 – Queen Brunette (longshot play)
race 10 – 7 High Amplitude, 2nd in that sizzling maiden win by Hidden Svroll (who is in the Fountain of Youth)
2 Haunt – galloped out well, leggy guy should like distance
8 Ranger Up – 3rd behind High Amplitude
6 – Felix the Fox – blinkers on, showed promise at 2
Race 11 – #1 – Precieuse has only raced once in almost 2 years but it was a beauty last summer; Chad Brown has this one training strongly.
Might be a key horse. The recent grade 3 stakes winner Bellavais won a stakes with Castellano up last time but that rider is on the pick.
Race 12 – Return of Champion 2yo filly in US Jaywalk, she is 2 to 5 in the morning line odds. Should go all the way on the lead.
Race 13 – The Fountain of Youth. If Hidden Scroll (#7) runs anything close to his debut win in the slop in a graded stakes race against tougher on a fast track, he will win. But there are a couple of ‘ifs’.
So, I will hope to back up that guy with Bourbon War, 4, and Vekoma, 5.
Race 14 – Canadian/Ontario bred Channel Maker (11) is a Grade 1 winner, has speed and his first race of the year was in a bog on Pegasus day. Big shot in paceless race.
Zulu Alpha and Highland Sky are logical.
Good luck!
