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Inca King lords it over Jefferson Cup foes Making his first start for Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, INCA KING (Sir Cat) led every step of the way to claim the $221,000 Jefferson Cup S. (G2) at Churchill Downs, the opening stakes event on Stephen Foster Super Saturday. Under clever handling by Shaun Bridgmohan, the dark bay gelding secured an uncontested lead through soft splits of :24 4/5, :49 4/5 and 1:14 3/5. The recent recruit to the Steve Asmussen barn then accelerated smartly, reeling off the mile in 1:37 2/5 and completing nine furlongs on the firm turf in 1:48 4/5. Crossing the wire with three lengths to spare, Inca King returned $18.60, $6.20 and $3.60 as an outsider at 8-1. "Every one of these wins is so special," said Brett Brinkman, racing manager for Heiligbrodt Stable. "This was our first race with the horse, and we really didn't know what to expect. We knew he was talented. We knew he had speed. It played out to where he was on the front end by himself, and it definitely paid off in the end." Duveen (Horse Chestnut [SAf]), the 4-5 favorite, raced along the hedge just behind the pacesetter but had no answer to the winner's explosive burst. He managed to hold off Jazz Quest (Jambalaya Jazz) by a neck to salvage second, paying $2.80 and $2.10. The 5-1 third-placer gave back $3.20. The exacta was worth $41.80, the trifecta $184, and with the 5-1 Lattice (Arch) in fourth, the 3-2-4-5 superfecta totaled $593.20. Trimaran (Mizzen Mast) checked in fifth, followed by Biggerbadderbetter (Sahm) and Kettle Hill (Pleasant Tap). By making his stakes debut a winning one, Inca King boosted his bankroll to $218,722 from his 9-3-3-0 line. During his brief career, he has spent time with three trainers prior to joining Asmussen. Inca King failed to win in his first six starts on dirt and Polytrack. At that point, his third trainer, Eduardo Caramori, switched him to the turf, and he hasn't lost since. He broke his maiden at Gulfstream Park in March and sailed through his entry-level allowance condition at Keeneland. That impressive tally led to the change in ownership. Bred in Kentucky by Dr. Ben F. Roach and Parrish Hill Farm, Inca King brought a mere $8,500 as a yearling at the 2005 Keeneland September Sale. He is the first foal from Inca Prize (Prized), who has also produced an unraced juvenile colt named Millennium Prize (Millennium Wind) and a yearling filly named Inca Jewel (Tiger Talk). This is the family of Grade 1 queen Catinca (Storm Cat).
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