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Embossed edges Lord Carmen Gary Tanaka's EMBOSSED (Ire) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]) earned his first stakes win in thrilling style, outfinishing Lord Carmen (Ordway) to post a nose decision in Tuesday's $200,000 Kentucky Cup Turf S. (G3) at Kentucky Downs. With Larry Melancon providing masterful handling, the Niall O'Callaghan-trained four-year-old tracked in second off a moderate pace in :26, :51 2/5, 1:19 3/5 and 1:45 4/5 for the opening mile. After surging to the lead in upper stretch, Embossed was quickly confronted by Lord Carmen, and the two battled gamely to the wire. However, Embossed never let his rival past on the outside, persevering for the narrow win. Dismissed as the longest shot in the field at nearly 35-1, Embossed returned $71.60, $29.80 and $11 after completing 1 1/2 miles over the good turf in 2:36 4/5. Lord Carmen, another bomb at 20-1, paid $19.20 and $7.40. It was three parts of a length back to a hard-luck Rochester (Green Dancer), who was blocked while full of run at the top of the stretch and switched paths repeatedly before getting clear too late. The bronze finisher gave back $5.40 at 7-1. The exacta totaled $781.60, the trifecta $8,055.20 and the 3-6-1-4 superfecta, with 13-1 Dynalympic (Dynaformer) on the bottom, was worth $18,474. Silverfoot (With Approval), the defending champ and 4-5 favorite, never got seriously involved from off the pace and came next under the wire. He was followed by Rock Lobster (Mt. Livermore), pacesetter Causeway (Giant's Causeway) and Major Rhythm (Rhythm). Bred in Ireland by Harron Eakin Farms, Embossed is out of the Vision mare L-Way First and was purchased for $483,000 at the 2004 Tattersalls (England) Autumn Horse in Training Sale. He finished second in the Solario S. (Eng-G3) as a juvenile and was sent to America last season, placing in the Hawthorne Derby (G3). The dark bay colt has now earned $267,433 from a 18-4-4-2 line.
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