Vacare Runs Them Down in the Dahlia

By Profitus Maximus
December 21, 2008

Vacare’s class prevailed as she ran down runner up Gotta Have Her and In My Glory to win Sunday's Dahlia Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Sent off as the favorite at odds of 4-5, Vacare drew the inside post and broke on top but jockey Jose Valdivia was not intent on getting the lead as he soon dropped her back to a stalking position behind pacesetting In my Glory, tucking her neatly down at the rail to save ground.

In My Glory set a leisurely pace, traveling the opening quarter mile in 24.94, which was in fact the slowest opening quarter mile for a 1 1/16 grass race for the entire Hollywood fall meet. The slow pace certainly aided the horses close to the pace, as no horse that was any farther back fourth early on finished in the money. In fact, the first three turning for home were the first three at the wire.

TVG Network analyst Simon Bray noted that Gotta Have Her may have been too close to the pace in her last race in addition to breaking from a bad post 13 may have compromised her chances. She would track a much softer pace which likely helped her today.

Gotta Have Her laid a couple lengths back down the backstretch, and made her move as they reached the quarter pole as did Vacare who was laying just in behind Gotta Have Her. In My glory, having plenty of speed in reserve due to the pedestrian early pace, was tough to get by as they turned into the stretch. In fact, Gotta Have Her and In my glory battled it out right down to the wire, but the class of Vacare prevailed as she ran them both down inside the final sixteenth of a mile.

It should be noted that track announcer Vic Stauffer noted that third betting choice Lady Digby checked off the heels of another horse in the first furlong although the official Equibase chart does not reveal any trouble. She trailed the field as a result, and given that no horse from behind was able to make up ground today on what was the slowest pace of the season, the handicapper might want to excuse her 5th place finish today.

According to TVG Network reporter Christina Olivares, this was the last race for Vacare as she will be retired and go out a winner.