GOOD AFTERNOON & WELCOME TO
MIDWEEK MAYHEM & BOTS DAY AT TAMPA BAY DOWNS
OUR FEATURE EVENT TODAY IS
THE WINTER SOLSTICE STAKES
DUE TO THE HOLIDAYS ~ WE HAVE HAD A FEW SCRATCHES
LEAVING US WITH A FIELD OF 8 AS 7 CHALLENGE DEFENDING
CHAMPION ~ JOHN HENRY FOR A REPEAT VICTORY
BOTS HONOR ALSO ON THE LINE WITH AN EQUAL BALANCE
TODAY OF 4 COLTS & 4 FILLYS
THE HORSES ARE STANDING CALMLY IN THE GATE
AS WE ARE READY TO RUN IN THE WINTER SOLSTICE STAKES
AND AWAAAAAAAAAAAAY THEY GO
LIKE TWIN ROCKETS, DUSTY & CATALINA BURST OUT OF THE
GATE LEAVING THE OTHER 6 WONDERING IF THERE WERE A
MALFUNCTION IN THE STARTING GATE?
THE TWO FILLYS HAVE TAKEN A HUMONGOUS LEAD OVER
THE REST OF THE FIELD WHO NOW ARE PLAYING CATCH UP
OUT OF THE TURN THEY COME
DUSTY & CATALINA IN TOTAL COMMAND
TIGER DANCER IS NEXT BUT VERY FAR BACK AND JUST A
LENGTH IN FRONT OF REAL QUIET & BLUNNY
ANOTHER FEW LENGTHS BACK TO JOHN HENRY & RUFFIAN
AS CIGARSHOP TRAILS THE FIELD
THEY'RE AT THE TOP OF THE STRETCH
BUT NOW THERE IS JUST ONE FILLY IN THE LEAD AS DUSTY
HAS LEFT CATALINA IN HER WAKE WHEN SHE KICKED INTO
SUPER-SPEED GEAR TAKING A 20 LENGTH LEAD!
SUDDENLY THE CROWD IS ON THEIR FEET AS RUFFIAN FROM THE CLOUDS ~ HAS LET HER 'INNER CHEETAH' LOOSE AND IS ROARING
HER WAY PAST ONE AFTER ANOTHER INCLUDING CATALINA
RUFFIAN FLYING ON FURIOUSLY FAST FILLY FEET IS NOW THE ONLY CHALLENGER TO DUSTY WHO REMAINS FAR AHEAD ON THE LEAD
AND DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME
DUSTY JUST TOYING WITH THE FIELD NOW IS PUTTING ON
AN IMPRESSIVE EXHIBITION OF POWER & SPEED
RUFFIAN ALL OUT AND CLOSING THE GAP WITH EVERY STRIDE
JOHN HENRY FINALLY PUTTING IN A BID TO REPEAT HIS LAST WIN
HAS KICKED INTO GEAR BUT PROBABLY TOO LITTLE TOO LATE
REAL QUIET ALSO FOUND HIS BEST STRIDE AND IS JUST OFF
THE TAIL OF JOHN HENRY
CATALINA IS BACKING UP BADLY AFTER SETTING EXHAUSTING
FRACTIONS RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE ~ TOO MUCH TO SUSTAIN
IT'S SEVERAL LENGTHS BACK TO BLUNNY & TIGER DANCER AS CIGARSHOP REMAINS AT THE VERY BACK WITHOUT FIRING AT ALL
THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT WHO WILL STAND IN THE WINNER'S CIRCLE
AND NO DOUBT WHO WILL WIN THE BRIDESMAID TROPHY
IT'S A FILLY BOTS DAY EXACTA VICTORY
JOHN HENRY HOLDS ON FOR 3RD
REAL QUIET STEALS 'THE PRECIOUS'
OFFICIAL ORDER OF FINISH
DUSTY =============== $99.40
RUFFIAN ============= $69.80
JOHN HENRY (DC) ===== $56.60
REAL QUIET ========== $51.90
(SHHHH...GOLLUM LURKS NEARBY!)
======== ALSO RAN ==========
CATALINA ====== ====== $42.70
BLUNNY ============== $31.70
TIGER DANCER ======== $28
CIGARSHOP ===== ===== $21.70
REMAINS IN THE OLE DOG HOUSE
WILL NEED TO RE-ORDER BOOZE & BABES
=^,,^=
