Bernell Rhone seeing off Dean Butler and FizzyWe came really close to scratching the Fiz today when the $25,000 optional claiming race was switched from the turf to the dirt. For the reasons posted previously we went for it. Dean Butler had Fiz in a solid spot trailing a fair pace throughout most of the race and started reeling in the front runners on the turn for home. As he was methodically closing the gap, I thought we were going to win going away. That was not meant to be however. Fiz closed to within a neck at the wire, but that was as close as we would get. I was a little ticked - it's tough getting beat by a neck and while I know you can't win them all, I tend to be pretty competitive. My wife says it is one of my least attractive qualities.
Before I could stomp my feet, however, the 'inquiry' sign was up. The stewards were looking into the stretch run of the race. We were on the outside and it appeared that we were running straight and true, but watching the stewards replay, the first place finisher, Variance, clearly came in on the third place finisher Suddenly Silver squeezing him out of contention. I don't know if he really affected Fizzy except to the extent that I wonder if Dean let up a bit knowing that a collision was imminent if he kept pushing.
After about an hour of waiting (OK, about 5 minutes) the flashing numbers stopped and Paul Allen announced to all that for interference in the stretch, Variance was disqualified and placed third and that the winner of the race was Fizzy Pop! There were some groans and some yells from the crowd - they were the two top choices - but the biggest yells came from our group!
It was a great effort on the dirt for Fizzy. He best efforts recently were on the turf and we were unsure of what he would do back on the dirt again, though we were cautiously optimistic. While we didn't get a winner's circle photo, we did get a win and first place money. Thanks to my lovely wife, Theri, she took our own winner's circle photo!
Bill, Mike, Laura, Steve, Forrest, Me and Benjamin
8 comments:
stick with the GUT...CONGRATS to all...Long Live The KIng!!!
Congratulations! What agony it must have been as you waited...
Nice Win!
Congrats, Ted!
I've never had one put up, or taken down, via DQ... not sure I could stand the stress. Well done.
Yay!
Thanks, all. It was the longest 5 minutes of my life! Watching the replay, we did get bumped right at the wire, but the actual third place finisher lost any hope when Variance cut him off. There is a chance we would have won anyhow, so I feel better about it.
Frank - I don't wish it on anyone. You end up thrilled when you get the 'W', but you feel kind of cruddy about getting it that way. Not that I'm going to give it back or anything...
Take 'em any way you can get 'em, Ted. They're rare enough in this business!
congrats! look forward to fiz's next race!
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