Close The Gap ran 3rd, beaten just 3/4 of a length, in the 8th at Ellis Park earlier this evening. The track announcer summed it up perfectly as he called it a “tough luck third.”
She got out of the gate well and Joe Rocco settled her on the rail about 7 lengths off the leader. Unfortunately, the opening quarter went in a very slow 25.36. The pace quickened a bit in the second quarter, but Close The Gap was penned in with little room to operate. She really didn’t get any running room until about the final 1/16 when Rocco finally kicked her to the outside. She made up a ton of ground and was closing hard at the line. She galloped out well past the field. Needless to say, we were none too happy with the ride. She simply had no chance being so far back on such a slow pace out of the gate. She otherwise, ran a great race and really gave her all trying to run down the leaders in the lane.
Initial indications are that she has come out of the race in good order. We’ll get her back home tonight and she’ll get a few days off before getting back on the track.
