Gracias left no doubt as to who the best runner was in the Canterbury Filly & Mare Claiming Series running her competition off their feet during a dominant five and one half-length victory on Thursday night. Wilson Dieguez was aboard for winning trainer Miguel Silva and owner Ruben Martinez.
Gracias broke sharply and immediately assumed early command over the favorite Boneafide Cat. From there, Dieguez simply rationed her speed going the opening quarter mile in 22.21 and the half in 45.64 before finishing the five and one half furlongs in 1:05.00.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDGOEMTpODM?rel=0]
The win most likely locked up the Claiming Series leading trainer title for Miguel Silva. Through the Filly and Mare Championship, Silva has 47 points, 17 more than his next closest competitor.
Rasin a Delight finished second under Scott Stevens at 18-1, Mighty Tizzy ran third, Havasu finished fourth and the wagering favorite Boneafide Cat was last.
The $25,000 Final for Colts and Geldings will be contested on Thursday, August 9. The Championship will be run at a distance of 5 and 1/2 furlongs and is only open to those that ran in two of the three qualifying events for Colts and Geldings.
For more information on the Canterbury Claiming Series, and for complete standings, check out the Canterbury Park webpage.
The 2012 Canterbury Claiming Series is sponsored by Continental Diamond.
This blog was written by Canterbury Park’s Live Racing and Digital Media Coordinator Andrew Offerman. Offerman has served in this role since returning to Minnesota in 2010 after earning his Master’s Degree from the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program.
