Michael Burns/WEG image of a very game KINGSPORT (6) holding off a troubled SWEET GRASS CREEK (4) and JACKS ESCARPMENT (inside)
KINGSPORT rules the day
David Sepiashville’s KINGSPORT, who carries his owner’s red and gold colours of Goldmart Farm, fended off a pack of challengers late in the 6 1/2 furlong Shepperton Stakes on Saturday at Woodbine to take down the $125,000 race.
The son of Milwaukee Brew – Green Jewel (there is a half sibling to this multiple stakes winner in the upcoming yearling sale on Sept. 1) posted a 92 Beyer Figure for his gritty win under Patrick Husbands. Trained by Sid Attard, the dark bay gelding held off Gus Schickedanz’s Sweet Grass Creek, who had trouble in traffic on the turn.
More recaps to come tomorrow on Thoroughblog.
FROSTED TAKES THE WHITNEY CAKE
The pace was fast and furious early in the 9 furlong Whitney – Grade 1 yesterday at Saratoga as heavily favoured FROSTED, coming off a herculean run in the Met Mile, was eager but being pressed.
Off a 123 Beyer Figure and a record-setting Met Mile score, it was easy to think the son of Tapit – Fast Cookie was going to be a bit in the regression-mode and halfway through the race, it looked dicey for the grey colt as he was zooming through 6 furlongs in 1:09 and change.
“I was cruising the whole way, he was very relaxed and I just tried to save something for the end,” said jockey Joel Rosario. “Sometimes he’s a little difficult and you have to let him do what he wants to do, but when I turned for home I knew he had something left because I know the way he likes to run. He pulled me [to the lead], so I didn’t want to take him back because he was happy there. He was comfortable [despite the fast fractions] after I cleared the horses inside of me on the first turn, he was really happy and enjoying it.”
A “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, the 89th running of the Whitney awards Frosted an all-fees-paid berth into the $6 million race on November 5 at Santa Anita.
Frosted already earned entrance into the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile for his astounding 14 ¼-length win in the Met Mile, believed to be the largest margin of victory in the race’s history.
