Terrapin Station, Mitty's Griddy must correct mistakes in Bowman's Mill
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Young horses make mistakes. It’s just part of the process of learning to race. Terrapin Station and Mitty’s Griddy both made some in their respective career debuts last month at Churchill Downs. They each won, too, making them interesting prospects for the $200,000 Bowman’s Mill on Saturday at Keeneland.
The pair’s paths to victory diverged, Mitty’s Griddy rallying from last of 12, Terrapin Station sitting close to the pace on the way to a win over 10 foes. Their win odds Saturday won’t align either. Mitty’s Griddy is listed as the 7-2 second choice on the morning line, but given the eye-catching nature of his race and the eye-popping Keeneland record of trainer Brad Cox, he’s the likely favorite. The line has Terrapin Station set at a reasonable 6-1.
The Bowman Mill, contested over six furlongs, drew just seven entrants, a rare short field this meet that will get shorter when White Sands, accoring to trainer Wesley Ward, will be scratched in favor of a Friday start at Keeneland. Ward runs the filly Long Neck Paula, who, in her most recent race, easily won the Prairie Meadows Debutante. More than seven lengths behind her in second came Glee, who returned to win a stakes race by 15 1/2 lengths.
Long Neck Paula will show speed, though she figures to take up a tracking position after breaking from post 6. Macho Music, the 2-1 morning-line favorite, should make the front. He did so winning a first-level Keeneland allowance race by 4 1/2 lengths on Oct. 5, earning a field-best 77 Beyer Speed Figure. But Macho Music faces stronger competition Saturday, and during opening weekend at this meet, front-runners on dirt dominated the racing.
Terrapin Station debuted on a sloppy track and spent basically the entire stretch run laying on the horse to his inside. Besides leaning in, Terrapin Station never changed leads, yet despite not having his head in the game, he won by two lengths. Video of two workouts shows him changing leads without issue, and his encouraging Oct. 19 drill featured a long, very strong gallop-out.
Mitty’s Griddy broke somewhat flat-footed and appeared to climb away from the kickback racing down the backstretch in his Sept. 12 debut. At the quarter pole he had moved only from 12th to 10th, and at the furlong grounds he appeared to have no chance at loose leader El Prestigio. But El Prestigio’s fast pace began taking a toll, and as he slowed, Mitty’s Griddy quickened, running his final furlong in 12.18, extremely fast for a 2-year-old on dirt.
Falling out the back door in Keeneland dirt races usually ends badly. If Mitty’s Griddy improves his positional pace and Terrapin Station runs straight, it could be these two at the wire in the Bowman Mill.
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