The race unfolded with Moscow Burning taking an uncontested lead on the yielding course, and slowing the pace to :25 2/5; :52 2/5; 1:17 4/5 and 1:41 2/5. Favored Wonder Again was just a length behind and looked to be able to pass at any juncture. But turning for home, Moscow Burning got stronger and Wonder Again backed out of the picture.
"I have no excuse," said Edgar Prado, Wonder Again's jockey. "There was a slow pace and we were right there. She hung in there at the half-mile pole. She felt fine at the three-eighths pole, and I thought I would have an extra gear at the top of the stretch. But I didn't. It happens sometimes."
Riskaverse, who was winless in four starts since last November, was meanwhile making progress on the outside. With a final surge, she blew by the leaders to post a 3/4 length victory in 2:04.65. "After all the tough trips she's had, it's neat to get her back into the winners' circle for a big race," said winning trainer Pat Kelly, who later in the day saddled Evening Attire to a fourth-place finish to Funny Cide in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. "I haven't picked out too many easy spots for her, but she has been up to the task. It's amazing because it took us two times to win it with Christiecat, so it is neat to try it again and get it the second time. I would imagine, she will head off soon to be a Mommy, but she is still very competitive. Maybe we can hang around for another year. The Breeders' Cup is here next year (October 29, 2005). Unfortunately, the Breeders' Cup [$1 million Filly & Mare Turf, Saturday, October 30th, Lone Star Park, Texas] is at a mile and three-eighths this year; we've been a little leery of the longer races. But the way she ran today, and with maturity, we could try it. I was worried because the pace was slow. But it looked like she was settled nicely."
Riskaverse paid $19.40 for the eight win of her 28-race career. Commercantegot up to take place by a head over Moscow Burning.
"I thought the course caught up to her speed," said Moscow Burning's trainer, James Cassidy. "It was much more yielding than it was in the Sheepshead Bay. Still, she tried to come back in the final strides to catch Frankel's horse (Commercante). She's tough. I'm going to talk to the owners about sending her to the Breeders' Cup. I cannot see why she shouldn't go, especially since we were considering it before the race."
Wonder Again, the even-money favorite at post time, defeated only Humaita and Indy Five Hundred. "She only got beat a few lengths," said Wonder Again's trainer James Toner. "They went slow, but she was right up there. I might have been a little too conservative with her training. We'll sit down and talk about our plans."
Result Chart race 7
On to the:
Jockey Club Gold Cup
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic
Vosburgh Stakes
