Hibernacle winning on debut at Keeneland Wednesday. (Coady Photography)
Keeneland, Race 2 – 04/12/2023
By 2YO EdgeMan
KEE2:041223 – If you thought Bledsoe’s performance was impressive for Wesley Ward last Wednesday, I hope that you had the opportunity to see his filly – #12 Hibernacle – today. To say that she was impressive would be an understatement – she was geared down to win by 7 1/2 of the easiest lengths that you’ll ever see. Rosario got her to break very alertly from the gate, although she jumped inward and ultimately bumped the #9 Happy Baytown, before losing her early lead and settling into a relaxed fourth place around the turn.
This pretty, bay filly by Hootenanny started moving nearing the head of the stretch and Joel never even thought about cocking his whip as she blasted off down the lane and stopped the clock in 52.39. She earned a crazy fast EBSF of 93 (yes, that’s right 9-3) and paid $5.08 to her backers. Both #2 Unheard and #9 Happy Baytown showed lots of early speed, but they faded, however #9 did hold on by a slim margin for second place. #5 Midnight Angel finished third, but other than the winner, this one showed me the most, coming from pretty far out of it to make a strong, sustained run through the stretch. Our pick – #6 Boyne Valley – scratched.
Right back at it tomorrow here at KEE with another juvenile affair carded again as Race 2 (our ‘Picks, Plays and Pontification’ piece is already up on this site for that one). Also, we are not covering it, but Gulfstream Park hosts their first 2YO MSW race of the year – Race 1 – tomorrow, with another one on Friday. That event will go off as Race 2 and includes the first runner for Spendthrift Farm’s exciting First-Crop Sire – Vino Rosso. We are really anxious to see this baby – #6 Zaino – as Vino landed third on my list of projected ‘Top 5’ First-Crop Sires for 2023 (posted on this site on March 30). More soon…
