BIGGIRL BIGGEST
IN DELTA
Red Star Biggirl did
not waste any time in finding her way back to the Fraser
Downs’ winner’s enclosure.
It just took a week,
and one minute and 55 seconds.
Biggirl was B.C.’s
two-year-old filly of the year in 2005, winning all five
starts she made. Her wins included two divisions of the
Sandown Breeders Stake and the big B.C. Breeders Stake on
Nov. 11.
She took some time
off and did not make her first start of this year until
the Delta Pace eliminations two weeks ago. Struggling a
tiny bit following the inactivity, she had to settle for a
second.
Handicappers and
punters alike turned away as the field lined up for the
$30,000 Delta Pace final last Saturday. Biggirl, despite
the two-hole, and stablemate Red Star Ocean became the 2-1
second choice. Another entry, Furious Five, who had beaten
Biggirl, and Leanback Coco, who had won the other
elimination, formed a 2-5 favored combo.
Biggirl was more
than ready this time. With new driver Jim Marino in the
bike for new trainer Bob Merschback, the daughter of
Grinfromeartoear, roared to the front and met all
challenges.
And there were more
than one. Biggirl and Coco battled for the lead to the
quarter with Biggirl holding a one-length lead over the
outside placed Coco in 29 seconds. The margin was 1˝
lengths at the half reached in 57.4 with Furious Five
starting a first-up move.
Biggirl led by two
at the three-quarter pole (1:26.1) with Furious second and
Coco third on the outside.
Coco whittled at the
margin coming home but Biggirl was still in control and
won by a length in the impressive time of 1:55. That was
only three ticks off the track record for three-year-old
fillies of 1:54.2 set by Fast Lane Cruizin on April 9,
2000. Furious Five was third and Sweetypea fourth.
“She’s a Cadillac,”
said Marino in the winner’s enclosure. “She was just a
pleasure to drive. Obviously Clint (Warrington who had
trained her previously) did a good job and Bob (Merschback)
had her ready today.”
“I was just
fortunate to pick up the drive.”
Biggirl, who is
owned by Robert Murphy, now has won more than $17,000 this
year and more than $66,000 for her career.
