|
|
King of the Roxy much the best in Hutcheson Team Valor Stables' KING OF THE ROXY (Littleexpectations) swept to the lead four-wide on the turn and powered home a decisive 2 1/4-length winner of the $150,000 Hutcheson S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Piloted by Edgar Prado, the three-year-old colt tracked slightly off the pace while wide before asserting himself approaching the stretch, opening a clear lead and leaving no doubt as to who was best on this occasion. The final time for 7 1/2 furlongs was 1:28, and the Todd Pletcher pupil gave back $15.40, $7.40 and $4.80 at 6-1. "Barry Irwin (of Team Valor) and I talked at the beginning of the year, and we decided to concentrate on one-turn races with him," Pletcher said. "I noticed in the paddock how much he's filled out and matured. In the Breeders' Cup (Juvenile [G1]), he just wasn't seasoned for it (when finishing eighth). We freshened him up after that and have been pointing for this race for a while." Bold Start (Jump Start) moved closer while inside turning for home, waited for room behind a wall of horses, angled outside and finished well to be a clear second, 5 1/2 lengths clear of his nearest pursuer. The runner-up was worth $10.60 and $6.60 while completing the $83.50 exacta ($1) at 11-1. Out of Gwedda (Out of Place), the 5-2 second choice, was in good position at the head of the stretch but could not match strides with the top pair, ultimately settling for third. Show paid $3.40 and the trifecta ($1) was good for $408.70. The 47-1 Reata's Rocket (Cape Canaveral) capped off the 8-2-9-5 superfecta ($1) worth $5,788.50 and was trailed by Air Lord (Stormin Fever), Storm in May (Tiger Ridge), 2-1 choice Forefathers (Gone West), Finallymadeit (Concerto) and pacesetter Spin Master (Distorted Humor). King of the Roxy improved his career mark to 6-3-1-0, $316,400. The sophomore captured the Futurity S. (G2) and placed in the Saratoga Special Breeders' Cup S. (G2), prior to his off-the-board finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. The winner was bred in Ohio by Deborah D. Kopatz and was purchased for the bargain price of $8,000 at the 2005 Keeneland September Yearling Sale prior to being acquired privately by his current connections. He is out of the winning Bold Forbes mare Marrakesh and has an unraced two-year-old half-sister named Sun Bolt (Bright Launch). Pletcher left the door open for a possible step up in trip. "I don't think he's done at 7 1/2 (furlongs), but I also don't know if he's a mile-and-a-quarter horse. He crossed a big hurdle today," the horseman added.
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
