Trainer Dave Hofmans saddled #6 One Fast Frog to an easy win
In my race preview, I avoided One Fast Frog because she was lightly raced and figured to be a short price. However, this filly was dropping in class from maiden special weight, and two races back on Oct. 20 she ran a 69 Beyer Speed Figure, which was just two points away from the winning median Beyer for this level of 71.
She looked good, which is why One Fast Frog paid just $5.
Instead, I took a shot on #3 Cee’s the Year. Trained by Ron Ellis, this was another filly who was a lightly-raced dropper that had a big race on her resume. On Oct. 2, Cee’s the Year, was steadied hard out of the gate by jockey Victor Espinoza. And by the time she got her stride back, she’d lost an estimated eight lengths.
She rallied well to earn a 60 Beyer, but I thought she could do much better with a clean break.
However, she never threatened in this race. When the gates opened, Cee’s the Year broke toward the rear of the seven-horse field. She showed some fleeting hope on the turn by responding to Espinoza’s urging while passing three horses.
On the front end, though, One Fast Frog was opening up a commanding six-length lead and Cee’s the Year had left herself too much to do.
She continued to hug the rail, but seemed to be all out to finish a disappointing third, some eight lengths behind the winner. After Cee’s the Year earned just a meager 55 Beyer, I was out $300.
To watch a replay of this race, go to www.calracing.com.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Maiden King 