This week in Florida, the fourteenth race on the card and one of the highlight races of the week was the Panhandle Park Oaks, open to three year old fillies. A field of seven drew into this years running. The weather was slightly overcast at post time, but the weatherman was correct in that not a drop fell from the sky, leaving the turf track to be listed as firm. The seven fillies made their way to the starting gates, with Truculent (IRE), owned by malekfarms, a little wound up on the way to the gate. They were able to get her settled and the field loaded easily into the chutes and waited for the race to begin.Off to an early lead by a length was one of the co-favorites of the race, Indy Ghost Hunter, who is owned by warbred1. Running a length back in second was homearoan trained Quantumimmorality (ENG). A length and a half back in third was Truculent (IRE) followed by Slevin’s The Name, trained by willrome in fourth. The other favorite of the race, dabears trained Miesque’s Gold (SAF) was in fifth with Dynamedic (ENG), trained by bmr005, six lengths back. Trailing the field early on was billiam40 owned and trained Dangerous Waters.
Indy Ghost Hunter lengthened her lead by two and one-fourth lengths now over Quantumimmortality (ENG) in second. Still running in third and fourth were Truculent (IRE) and Slevin’s The Name. The rest of the field followed with Dangerous Waters still trailing.
Into the turn Indy Ghost Hunter had lost some of her lead and was now two lengths ahead with the other co-favorite of the race, Miesque’s Gold (SAF) charging forward and now in second and gaining ground with every lengthening stride. Moving up into third was Slevin’s The Name. Dropping back in fourth was Truculent (IRE) with Quantimmortality (ENG) fading and dropping out of the race. In sixth was Dynamedic (ENG) and Dangerous Waters still trailing, nine and a half lengths off the pace of the leader.
The field flew into the stretch and Miesque’s Gold (SAF) went flying by Indy Ghost Hunter, the rest of the field struggling with the pace. Miesque’s Gold (SAF) was at the wire with a three length lead, winning the race in 1:42 3/5 under jockey V. Gardner with a speed figure of one hundred. Crossing the wire second was Indy Ghost Hunter with Slevin’s The Name third.
Also rans: Truculent (IRE), Dangerous Waters, Dynamedic (ENG) and Quantumimmortality (ENG).
