Grand Bili captures Carry Back
The gray colt fought for the lead early under Javier Castellano as Bluegrass Singer (Bluegrass Cat) set blistering opening fractions of :22 and :43 3/5. The pace took its toll on Bluegrass Singer, and Grand Bili was there to pick up the pieces as the leader faded at the head of the lane. Digging in deep through the stretch, the sophomore fended off Barbados when that one came running from midpack and held on to complete seven furlongs over the fast main track in 1:22. Grand Bili was sent off the 5-1 second choice and paid $12.20 for his first stakes victory. Barbados proved best of the rest, 4 1/2 lengths up on Juan and Bina (Indian Charlie), while Southern Barbecue (Hear No Evil) was another four lengths back in fourth. Grand Bili is lightly raced and saw his record improve to 2-2-0 from just five career starts. The Carry Back winner broke his maiden first out at Gulfstream on February 1 and was second two months later against allowance/optional claiming foes. He shipped to Pimlico for the Chick Lang S. but never showed anything while running in the back and finished 10th of 11 in that contest on May 16. |
Grand Bili returned to Gulfstream last out for a close second in the Big Cypress H. and has accumulated $130,530 in lifetime earnings.
Bred in Ontario by Gustav Schickendanz, Grand Bili was purchased for $30,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. He is out of dual stakes heroine Woodsmoke (Langfuhr) and is a half-brother to stakes-placed Enoree (More Than Ready). This female family also includes Grade 3 scorer Firm Dancer (Affirmed) and French classic-placed Gap of Dunloe (Sassafras).