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Acting Zippy wires Connally Turf Carl Bowling and trainer Don Bennett's ACTING ZIPPY (City Zip) was sent straight to the lead by jockey Robby Albarado in Saturday night's $197,000 John B. Connally Turf H. (G3) at Sam Houston and never relinquished his hold on that spot to score by a neck on the wire. Hal Wiggins, who trained Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) during the early part of 2009 before she was sold, was on hand to present the trophy to fellow conditioner Bennett and Albarado. "If (he) broke well from the starting position, I knew he would be able to carry the pace," Albarado said. "This is a versatile horse and I knew he would be able to win this." Acting Zippy posted splits of :25 1/5, :50, 1:15 3/5 and 1:40 before being challenged in the stretch run by Orientate Express (Orientate), who had stalked the pace in second throughout. The pair battled it out late, but Acting Zippy managed to hold the advantage and keep his neck in front while finishing up 1 1/8 miles on the firm turf in 1:52 1/5. "We might try moving him to the dirt next, but we're not completely sure at this time," Bennett replied when asked what's next for Acting Zippy. Sent off the 5-1 third choice, the Connally winner paid $12.40, $7.60 and $5.40 while keying the $97.60 exacta and $573.60 trifecta. Orientate Express was a length up on Baltimore Bob (Malibu Moon) to return $6.40 and $4 as the 5-1 second pick. Show gave back $5.20 at 6-1, and 8-1 Gran Estreno (Arg) (Lucky Roberto) ended the 7-10-12-9 superfecta that was worth $2,935.60. Gretsky (Toccet), Ablaze With Spirit (American Spirit), Going Ballistic (Lite the Fuse), nearly 3-1 favorite Pool Play (Silver Deputy), My Happiness (Arg) (Festin), Red Rock Creek (Numerous), Fifteen Love (Point Given) and Real Appeal (Successful Appeal) completed the order under the wire. King Dan (Include) and Ernesto (Royal Academy) were both withdrawn. Acting Zippy is now two-for-two in 2010, having captured an off-the-turf allowance at Sam Houston on January 16. Last season, he added victories in the R.R.M. Carpenter Jr. Memorial S., Vincent A. Moscarelli Memorial S., Decathlon S. and Changing Times S. to his record, which reads 31-10-7-4 following his Connally score. In addition, the five-year-old chestnut also won the 2008 Delta Mile S. and has placed in seven other black-type events. The gelding has banked $574,228 lifetime. Co-bred by Bowling and Ellen Thompson in Florida, Acting Zippy sold for $100,000 as an OBS March two-year-old. He is the first registered foal out of the unraced Stormack (Future Storm), who is a half-sister to Grade 3-placed stakes winner Pride Prevails (Proud Birdie) and Strongerthanpride (Proud Birdie), herself the dam of multiple Grade 2 king and Grade 1-placed Western Pride (Way West [Fr]). Others of note in this family include Grade 2 victor Scythian Gold (Selari) and Group 3 hero Loyal Double (Nodouble).
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