Trainer Tony Dutrow does it again, this time with Grace Hall to take the Spinaway Stakes
Two for two in her career for the Tony Dutrow trained 2-year-old filly, Grace Hall, who took on seven rivals to win the Grade 1 $250,000 Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga on 4 September, 2011.
Tony Dutrow seemed content with a single entry for the Spinaway Stakes, when he entered the Schuylerville Stakes second place finisher True Feelings, but as the Saratoga feature event drew closer Grace Hall was thrown into the mix.
It was the 120th running of the seven furlongs long Spinaway Stakes, open for 2-year-old fillies, and last year Todd Pletcher was victorious with R Heat Lightning with Garret Gomez aboard.
This year though, Ramon Dominguez had the opportunity to approach the winning circle up on Grace Hall as he won the race like a true professional by executing the plan perfectly on the field.
The pair broke well from the gate and rushed to settle comfortably in the fourth position. Grace Hall was tactfully taken off the pace and it was evident that she is going to stalk the leaders within her range.
At the mid pack, Grace Hall was tested by the determined Born Bullish and the 2 to 1 morning line favourite Georgie’s Angel, as the trio vied for the lead. The favoured filly Judy the Beauty right on their tail, the race was shaping out to be a good one.
The 2-year-old daughter of Empire Maker, Grace Hall, was kept back and steadied, making fractions of 22.71 and 45.96 seconds for the quarter mile splits.
It was Judy the Beauty who went for it, edging out her rivals and assuming the lead but not for a long time. With a furlong to go, Judy the Beauty seemed tame as she gave away the lead to Grace Hall, who was closing in at all times.
The lot turned for home, and that’s when Ramon Dominguez gave Grace Hall the pass to go all out, and that is exactly what she did, leaving behind her pace rivals to win the race by 1 ¾ lengths.
Judy the Beauty finished second under Jeffrey Sanchez, And Why Not third in a field of eight juvenile fillies.
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