February 19, 2024
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
Bizarro Shanahan
In last week’s edition of What’s on Track, we talked about Sierra Leone’s Kyle Shanahan-esque performance in last December’s Remsen Stakes (G2). This time around, in Saturday’s $400,000 Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds, the 3-year-old colt pulled a reverse Shanahan to capture the 1 1/8-mile affair.
Running from the back of the pack for most of the contest, Sierra Leone patiently stalked pace-setter Track Phantom (3-1) before striking in the closing moments to steal his first graded stakes win by a half-length.
After having the same done to him last time out, the Tyler Gaffalione mount was able to return the favor on Saturday.
The Bizarro Shanahan effort paid $7.40.
Mr. and Mrs. Russell
The husband-and-wife trainer-jockey duo of Brittany and Sheldon Russell stole the show at Laurel Park on Saturday, capturing the track’s two graded stakes events.
Starting in the $200,000 Barbara Fritchie (G3), the Russell’s deployed unassuming filly Apple Picker, who owned a modest 3-2-0 line in 11 starts coming in. At 5-1, the filly, making her 4-year-old debut, rebounded from a lagging start to score career graded stakes win number one by one length.
The pair followed that up immediately in the $200,000 General George (G3) with budding star and 1-5 favorite Post Time. Entering nearly perfect at 6-0-1 through seven starts, the 3-year-old colt more than looked the part in his graded stakes debut, clearing Seven’s Eleven (9-2) by 3 lengths.
The former paid $12.40, while the latter paid $2.60.
New Level? No Problem
There’s been a surplus of wins lately for Money Supply, who didn’t let a jump up to the graded stakes level stand in the way of a fifth straight win.
Making his first graded appearance in Saturday’s $250,000 Mineshaft Stakes (G3), the 4-year-old did just enough to usurp 3-5 choice Best Actor by a head. Closing at 9-1, oddsmakers didn’t have much faith in Money Supply, but the Kentucky-bred proved he’s more than ready to race with the big dogs.
The recent hot streak pushed the Joe Sharp charge’s career line to 7-2-2 through 16 starts. Saturday’s breakthrough score paid a healthy $20.20.
Keep it in the Family
Tarifa’s sophomore campaign is off to a perfect 2-for-2 start after a textbook 2 ¾-length win in Saturday’s $300,000 Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds.
The 3-year-old filly hung around the center of a six-horse field, patiently awaiting her moment to strike. When that moment came just after the three-quarter mark, Tarifa and top rider Flavien Prat slid to the front of the pack for good.
Now a graded stakes champion in her first ever try at the level, Tarifa becomes the second consecutive Godolphin homebred to win the Rachel Alexandra. Multiple graded stakes winner Pretty Mischievous took last year’s event by a three-quarter length margin.
Tarifa paid an even $7 for the win.
Full Battery
Racing for the third time in 66 days, Recharge showed no signs of fatigue in a tightly contested gate-to-wire Sunland Park Oaks score on Sunday afternoon.
Despite the quick turnaround between contests, the 3-year-old filly still had plenty left in the tank to hold off 5-2 challenger Candy Aisle and take home the $250,000 stakes’ top prize.
The small, but deep field, led by closing line favorite Simply Enchanting (4-5), was by far Recharge’s stiffest test to date. Before Sunday’s big win, Recharge had never raced above the allowance level. That said, the Steve Asmussen pupil is still undefeated through three career starts.
The first of what could be many stakes scores for Recharge paid $6.60.