GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO
SUPURRR~SATURDAY AT BELMONT PARK
WE HAVE A FINE FIELD OF 12 RUNNERS
AFTER 2 LATE SCRATCHES OF -- RAVEN & EL PRADO
JOHN HENRY WILL BE TRYING FOR A REPEAT VICTORY
HE GOT A STANDING OVATION FROM THE CROWD
AS HE PASSED BY THE STANDS IN THE POST PARADE ~
PROBABLY BECAUSE HE HAS HAD MORE THAN HIS SHARE
OF VISITS TO THE EQUINE CLINIC THIS SEASON ~
ALWAYS A HEARTWARMING EVENT WHEN HE RUNS AND THEN WINS
THE HORSES ARE ALMOST ALL LOADED INTO THE STARTING GATE
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CRIMINAL TYPE
WHO IS LATHERED UP AND APPEARS TO BE A BIT ON EDGE
WITH PEPPERMINTS HE HAS BEEN CONVINCED TO GO INTO HIS GATE
WE ARE FINALLY READY TO RUN
"AND AWAAAAAAAAAAAY THEY GO".....
NOT A GOOD BEGINNING FOR CRIMINAL TYPE
AS HE WENT DOWN TO HIS KNEES COMING OUT OF THE GATE
ALMOST LOSING HIS JOCKEY AND NOW
HAS A LOT OF GROUND TO MAKE UP TO BE IN CONTENTION FOR ANY MONEY
IT'S A TRIO WHO LEFT THE GATE WITH SUPERSONIC SPEED
LEAVING THE REST OF THE FIELD PLAYING CATCH UP
DEFENDING CHAMPION JOHN HENRY, DUSTY, AND CATALINA
HAVE TAKEN A HUGE LEAD OVER THE FIELD
WITH RECORD BREAKING FRACTIONS
COMING OUT OF THE TURN
IT IS RUFFIAN......
WHO HAS LET HER INNER CHEETAH LOOSE
PASSING BOTH DUSTY AND CATALINA
TO BE JUST OFF THE TAIL OF THE FREAKY FAST COLT ~ JOHN HENRY
CATALINA & DUSTY HAVE NOW BEEN JOINED BY BLUNNY
IT'S ABOUT 5 LENGTHS BACK TO REAL QUIET AND STARK
THERE IS A HUGE GAP BACK TO POST TIME MIKE ~
TIGER DANCER ~ PEEPTOAD ~ CIGARSHOP
RUNNING IN ANOTHER TIME ZONE IS CRIMINAL TYPE
WHO HAS LOST SO MUCH GROUND COMING OUT
OF THE GATE THAT HE IS STRUGGLING TO CATCH UP
THEY'RE AT THE TOP OF THE STRETCH
JOHN HENRY STILL IN COMMAND AND RUFFIAN RIGHT WITH HIM
DUSTY HAS REGAINED HER ENERGY AND NOW HAS JOINED RUFFIAN
AS BOTH FILLYS ARE CHASING JOHN HENRY
WHO IS SHOWING NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN
BLUNNY, NOW JOINED BY REAL QUIET AND STARK ARE NEXT
CATALINA SPOOKED AT SOMETHING ON THE TRACK
LOSING HER EARLY MOMENTUM
POST TIME MIKE HAS NOW CAUGHT UP TO CATALINA
IT'S ANOTHER SEVERAL LENGTHS BACK TO PEEPTOAD
FOLLOWED BY TIGER DANCER WHO HAS A VERY
DETERMINED CIGARSHOP RIGHT AT HER TAIL
AND TROTTING ALONG SHOWING NO SPEED
OR INTEREST IN RUNNING .... IS CRIMINAL TYPE
AND DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME
JOHN HENRY STILL IN THE LEAD....
BUT TRYING TO HOLD OFF A NEW CHALLENGER
DUSTY HAS "REVVED UP" HER ENGINE
.... AND HAS PASSED RUFFIAN
TO COLLAR THE FRONT RUNNING SPEEDSTER
WHO HAS SET BLISTERING FRACTIONS RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE
HOLD ON TO YOUR TICKETS FOLKS ---
WE SUDDENLY NOW HAVE A MATCH RACE UNFOLDING...
JUST WHEN IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS NO DOUBT
WHO WOULD STAND IN THE WINNER CIRCLE
DUSTY IS NOW NECK & NECK WITH JOHN HENRY
STRIDE FOR STRIDE WITH THE WIRE JUST AHEAD
IT'S GONNA BE A TIGHT PHOTO FINISH FOR THE WIN
BOTH NOSES APPEAR TO HIT THE WIRE TOGETHER
TOO CLOSE TO CALL
..... OBJECTIONS BEING HEARD
TOTE BOARD LIGHTS FLASHING
TWO TRAINERS RUSHING DOWN TO THE TRACK
STEWARDS REVIEWING THE REPLAY
THE VOICES FROM THE CROWD ARE DISTINCTLY TWO VARIETIES.....
HIGH PITCHED SCREAMS FROM THE LADIES FOR DUSTY
DEEPER TONED SHOUTING FOR JOHN HENRY
FINALLY THE LIGHTS HAVE STOPPED FLASHING
AND THE DEEPER TONED SHOUTS PREVAIL
AS JOHN HENRY EMERGES VICTORIOUS
REPEATING HIS LAST WIN AND NOW WILL
ATTEMPT THAT ELUSIVE 3-PEAT NEXT TIME
**AN IMPRESSIVE GATE TO WIRE VICTORY --
$$-ORDER OF FINISH & PAYOUT-$$
1st ~ JOHN HENRY(DC) ====== $83.20
2nd ~ DUSTY ============= $80.30
3rd ~ RUFFIAN ============ $63.40
4th ~ BLUNNY ============ $59.60
(STEALS ANOTHER GOLDEN RING AS GOLLUM LURKS
BEHIND THE TOTE BOARD WAITING TO POUNCE)
==== ALSO RAN ====
REAL QUIET ========= $53.70
STARK ============ $49.50
CATALINA ========== $38.70
POST TIME MIKE ====== $37.10
PEEPTOAD ========== $29.60
TIGER DANCER ======= $27.50
CIGARSHOP ========= $16.80
CRIMINAL TYPE ======= $14.10
...AND IT'S BACK TO THE DOG-HOUSE AGAIN
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WE NOW BID YOU A GOOD EVENING
AND A SAFE, SOBER, NON-TEXTING DRIVE HOME
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