THE SKY IS FALLING SCORES IN CASEY MEM’L
Frank Vespe- October 31, 2021
The Sky Is Falling staked her claim as the top juvenile filly at Charles Town Races Saturday night, surging to a two-length victory in the $75,000 Eleanor Casey Memorial Stakes for West Virginia-bred fillies.
The win in the seven-furlong contest gives the daughter of Cupid victories in both of Charles Town’s two-turn stakes for two-year-old fillies. She had previously scored by 1 ½ lengths in the $100,000 West Virginia Triple Crown Nutrition Breeders’ Classic.
- “Bittersweet moment” as Hessica hits retirementTwo-time WVBC Cavada winner Hessica couldn’t get one last win, settling for second November 9, but she’s had quite a career for owner-trainer Kristy Petty.
One key moment in the Eleanor Casey took place just as the gates opened. Fancy Her Up, the speedy winner of the 4 ½-furlong Rachel’s Turn Stakes and the 9-5 second choice here, broke several paths outward and a bit slow. That forced her to rush up outside of horses to attain her preferred spot on the front and used some of her store of energy.
Fancy Her Up, with Gerald Almodovar in the irons, threw down daunting fractions of 22.85 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.73 seconds for the half. At that point she held a three-length advantage, but she was beginning to tire.
Under regular pilot Arnaldo Bocachica, meanwhile, The Sky Is Falling was able to attain a perfect spot in third, a few lengths behind the leader and racing in the clear. When Bocachica asked The Sky Is Falling for her best, she responded, pulling away late to win by two in 1:27.86 for seven furlongs on a sloppy, sealed main track.
Longshots Aim’s Jubilee and Hessica filled out the next two spots in the trifecta. Fancy Her Up finished fourth.
Off at 4-5, The Sky Is Falling paid $3.60 to win and topped an exacta that returned $18.00 for a buck.
The Sky Is Falling had helped owner David Raim, trainer Jeff Runco, and Bocachica to a historic WVBC night; they recorded five, seven, and eight wins, respectively. With the win Saturday, she now has three wins from four starts and earnings of $99,367.
The Sky Is Falling is out of the Half Ours mare Miss Henny Penny and was bred in West Virginia by Catherine K. Jennings and Scott Mallory. She sold for $40,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland January mixed sale, and Raim subsequently purchased her privately.
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