Gracie’s Big Day: Ellis Filly Explodes Late for Impressive Win; Nyquist Daughter Looks Ready to Stretch Out

Three year old filly for Ron Ellis dropped down in for a tag on Friday after three straight starter allowance races at five and a half on the main. Off as the 2nd choice in the wagering in a field of 7 at 8/5, she broke with the field from the outside and settled in 4th down the back side just three off the pace. The bug boy Orantes took her to the rail at the 3/8 pole and she looked loaded turning for home. She found a tight seam at the top of the lane, forged her way through it at the 1/8 pole and then exploded to win by five going away late. A strong gallop out quickly followed. Nobody dropped the slip and this was just her 2nd career win so Ellis has plenty of options from this $32,000 claimer for soph fillies. Being out of Nyquist and a Shackleford mare, she is bred to go long and he may stretch her out as well after witnessing her gallop out.

Next Upcoming Race:  

 

Gracie’s Big Day’s Race Information
Race Date:  February 28, 2025	Track:  Santa Anita		Race #:  4
Distance:  5.5 Furlongs	Conditions: claiming		Surface: Dirt
Trainer:  Ronald Ellis	Jockey:  Welfin Orantes		Track Condition:  FAST
Trouble Notes:  stalked 4deep, 3-2wide, lacked room briefly, going away			Track Variant:  0
Finish Position: 1st	Win Payout:  $ 5.20	Place: Payout:  $ 3.40	Show Payout:  $ 2.80

Race Replay

Gracie’s Big Day – Santa Anita –  February 28, 2025

Gracie’s Big Day Performance Figures Earned
Race Condition Pars	Gracie’s Big Day Figures Earned
Race Class Level:  110	Running Style In Race:  Mid Pack Runner
Final Time Rating Par: 150	Final Time Rating: 107
CPR Race Par:  98	CPR Earned In Race: 95
Fast Fig Race Par:  0	Fast Fig In Race:
Key Race Winners: 1	Running Style In Race:   Mid Pack Runner
(click the links above to learn more avbout each figure and how to use them in your handicapping)

Generally horses that are on the Horses To Watch list ran into unexpected trouble, bad luck, and/or didn’t run the race we believe Gracie’s Big Day was cabable of.  We expected that if Gracie’s Big Day gets a good trip in their next start than we should see an improvement in Gracie’s Big Day performance figures.  Use the performance figures earned in Gracie’s Big Day last race (listed above) and compare them to the field and pars of Gracie’s Big Day next start.  If Gracie’s Big Day appears to have earned higher performance figures in the last race when running into trouble  as compared to the rest of the field’s expected perfomance in the upcoming race than there is a good chance that Gracie’s Big Day will dominate the race.

Helpful Tip:  So that it’s easy for you to compare a horse’s past performance, Today’s Racing Digest’s Performance Figures for upcoming races are based on how we expect the horse to perform in that race regardless of any changes in race conditions.  Learn More: