Well the tote board took a beating in this one…  Coupe de Lyon, trained by Nakamura Stables and sent off as a 18/1 outsider, closed determinedly to get past another long-shot, What A Guarantee, also at 18/1, to get the win in The Southwest (GIII) and help his cause in getting to Louisville, that first Saturday in May.  Red Leaf rounded out the $1,278.300 trifecta.

The eleven sophomores got away well with no lack of early speed in this one with Prince Of Reason, Coup de Lyon Samurai Warrior and Quadplex jockeying for the early lead.  Red Leaf from the rail Champagne Supernova next to that one Ar Over Indi, Plumes, Burn Charley Burn, Wat A Guarantee and Laffin Penny from from the far outside, all up close and after it.

Into the sweeping clubhouse turn and now six and a half furlongs to run, they fanned out a bit with Prince Of Reason from the outside, Samurai Warrior on the rail both after the lead.  A length and a half back to the trio of Coup de Lyon from the outside, Champagne Supernova between horses and Red Leaf on the rail.  Another length back to Plumes, Ar Over Indi skimming the rail, Quadplex on his flank and What A Guarantee wide and next to that one.  Burn Charley Burn caught five wide and Laffin Penny from the back, seven lengths cover them.

The field moved down the backside and now had a half mile left to the wire with Prince Of Reason now showing the way by two lengths.  Samurai Warrior still in a stalking position, What A Guarantee still wide but keeping after it.  Another length to Red Leaf towards the inside, Champagne Supernova on his outside, a gap of two back to Coup de Lyon losing some ground Quadplex in a ground saving trip, Plumes between that pair, then a gap of three back to the trailing trio of Ar Over Indi on the rail, Burn Charley Burn three wide and Laffin Penny between them, now eight lengths from front to back.

Around the far turn and to the top of the lane, they went past the quarter pole and Prince Of Reason was still showing the way by a length and a half.  What A Guarantee digging in for the drive, Samurai Warrior on his inside and still a threat, Champagne Supernova had a clear path five wide, Quadplex on the rail stills saving ground, Coup de Lyon now making a move widest of all.  Plumes was just in behind that foursome, a gap of two back to Laffin Penny, now being asked to pick it up, Ar Over Indi on the rail but looking flat and Burn Charley Burn was at the rear, ten lengths from the leader.

Now inside the furlong marker, it was getting good… a bunch of them looking like the had big chances to get the job done today.  Prince of Reason had seen his lead dwindle down to a half length as What A Guarantee was now applying the pressure, a wall of five in behind that one including Quadplex from the inside, Coup de Lyon from the far outside, Champagne Supernova, Samurai Warrior, and Red Leaf between those two – the rest had a lot of work to do as time was running out quickly.

Inside the final 150-yards and to the finish, What A Guarantee now up to take over as Prince Of Reason was done for the day, Coup de Lyon from the far outside pressing forward with every jump, Quadplex trying to find more… but as they neared the wire, Coup de Lyon went on by and crossed the wire first by a neck.  What A Guarantee was a game, hard luck second, with Red Leaf showing some late foot to grab the show spot.  Quadplex was fourth them Plumes in fifth, Champagne Supernova was a disappointing sixth, Ar Over Indi in seventh, Prince Of Reason in eighth, Laffin Penny was ninth, Samurai Warrior in tenth and Burn Charley Burn a distant eleventh.

Coup de Lyon is a 3yo gelded son of Knowledge Geek – Laffin Partner by Die Laffin, and he was bred by his owner, Nakamura Stables, in NY.  This was his fourth win from ten starts, and he now has $499.180 in earnings with the bulk of that coming in this win and his second place finish in the Smarty Jones over this same OP surface.  It looks like the barn has a contender!

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast      Time: :23³  :47¹  1:10³  1:41¹

$1 Exacta: 3 – 8 Paid 389.70      $1 Trifecta: 3 – 8 – 1 Paid 1,278.30
Scratched: None

Categories: Grade III