Trips August 19
Arlington Park
GRANDIOSE TACTICS (Race 4@AP, August 16, 2013, 1 1/16th miles, turf, Maiden Claiming $25,000) Only debut runner in field hopped and bobbled at start, which caused her to begin last. Recovered well and moved behind first flight when coming out of first turn. Moved a little wide going into far turn and swung out wider when entering the stretch. She ran with determination and finished an impressive fourth defeated only a couple of lengths.
Del Mar
VEGAS RULES (Race 2 @DMR, August 14, 2013, 5 furlongs, turf, AOC $25,000) Ignored on toteboard the filly kept to the inside and was just behind the leaders but was forced to take up and check when entering the turn. She came back and was close again when she was mugged at the 1/8 pole and shuffled to next to last. She came back to finish ahead of three foes.
BONITA STAR (Race 6@ DMR, August 14, 2013, One mile, Claiming $10,000) Second choice in the field was left in the gate and then hopped her first step out and slightly stumbled. Before taking a good full stride she was more than a dozen from the leader and 5-6 lengths behind the nearest horse. From there she ran a terrific race and showed determination with a continued rally in the turn and always moving forward gaining on the leaders. She finished a very respectable fifth.
Golden Gate
OFFICER MARY (Race 5@GG, August 16, 2013, 5 furlongs, Maiden Claiming $25,000) Fourth choice was off a little slow and stayed to the inside keeping pace with leaders. Was directly behind leaders entering stretch and was in contention until being impeded in mid stretch and forced to check and finished sixth.
Louisiana Downs
LADY GRANTHAM (Race 4@LAD, August 17, 2013, 6 furlongs, Stakes) The fourth choice in a big field was away in good order and stalked the first flight going about three wide throughout the entire turn. Made a winning move when entering the stretch and was catching the winner. While noses apart the eventual winner began to drift and did so on three occasions forcing LADY GRANTHAM farther out each time. Another opponent came up the rail to get second. LADY GRANTHAM finished third in the original order but was elevated to second after the winner was disqualified.
Monmouth
NORTHERN CURLEW (Race5@MTH, August 17, 2013, 5 1/;2 furlongs turf, Claiming $25,000) The favorite stalked the early speed and looked to be a winner coming up the rail until the pacesetter veered inside badly with less than a furlong to run causing the favorite to take up sharply and lose quite a bit if ground. She was elevated to the top spot after a Steward’s Inquiry.
Woodbine
MADAM INSPECTOR (Race 1@WO, August 16, 2013, 6 furlongs, Claiming $16,000) The winner and fifth choice stumbled badly at the start and lost considerable ground. She stayed on the outside and was widest into and out of the turn but continued to show determination when reaching the stretch. She ran down the favorite and then kept to task and ran down the second choice to win by a neck. She could have won by much more without the trouble.
GINGER GOOSE (Race 6@ WO, August 17,2013, 6 furlongs turf, Allowance 1X) The gelding traveled well at the back of the field and advanced well in the stretch gaining excellent position. The runner up and another foe bumped him and shut him off forcing him to check sharply at the 1/16th pole losing all hope of finishing in the money and settling for fifth.
