The Straight Deal

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I don't know if anyone remembers all the details surrounding this turf stake run at Belmont Park a month ago...but it was a very interesting race.

The $65,000 Straight Deal was run through INCREIDBLY slow fractions and featured an explosive final quarter mile.

The first six furlongs of this one mile race was run in just 1:12.26. To give you an idea how slow that was, a NY Bred MSW race run an hour later at the same distance, featured a 1:11.14 six furlong clocking. Almost six and a half lengths faster. And in that NY Bred MSW race, the pace held up tremendously well...the 8/1 winner stalked the 40/1 pacesetter from 2nd. Horses racing in the top four positions after six furlongs, ended up nailing down the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th positions under the wire.

In other words, the closers in the Straight Deal are at a giant disadvantage. However, they ran tremendously well.

In the six horse field, the top two finishers (Strike A Deal and Summer Doldrums) raced 3rd and 4th respectively after the first six furlongs, albeit both just shadowing the two leaders, and they surged away from the field through the rapid final quarter mile.

Such an extreme slow early-fast late race shape, can really benefit horses who are looking to make a big stertch-out. And these top two finishers once again dominated, this time in a $750,000 stake at Colonial over the weekend. They had no problem at all with the stretchout from 8 furlongs-to 9.5 furlongs.

The horse most compromised by the pace in the Straight Deal stakes, Le Dauphin, was dead last after six furlongs and rallied impressively to run a sneaky good race.

He'd won his only career start on dirt as a 2yo in very sneaky good fashion, was bred to handle dirt, was training well over it, and Bill Mott decided to run him on it yesterday.

Off that race last out, you had to know you would see an electrifying performance through the very late stages of the 8.5 furlong race from Le Dauphin.

After being put into the race, and getting a nice trip, the 14/1 shot cut loose with a 6.11 final 1/16th of a mile, inspite of fighting the rider and trying to get out, while drifting out through the very, very late stages. Jockey Kent Desermoux was never able to ride him the way you'd want, and use left handed whipping, because the horse wanted to get out so badly.

It was a sad day for backers of Le Dauphin though, as the chronic hanger who was far and away most likely to run 2nd in the race was put up.

Nevermind that he had a clear path through the stretch, which was never taken. Nevermind that the only contact was a light brush five yards before the wire. Nevermind that no semi-reasonable person believes Shug's hanger was going to run a 5 and change final 1/16th to get up.

Even when highly incompetent stewards steal a 14/1 winner, and all the nice exotics to boot, away from you....at least you still get the satisfaction of knowing you made a few good reads, on both the Straight Deal stakes and Le Dauphin.