5/7/2022

  12  CD     THE KYD (GI)

 $3,000.000    3YO    1 1/4 mile  Dirt   Weight 126lbs   Fillies 121lbs  

                    Preference to TC-KYD Qualifications

I’m the one constantly preaching big races, big purse, big horses, big barns… but I don’t listen to myself.  We had another Kodak moment, but after looking at the photograph, Gigabyte, owned by Smokey Stover, won the 19th Running of the KYD by the smallest of margins, getting the classic mile and a quarter in 2:01.55, taking the first part of the TC over Mb Stables’ Individuation in a thriller.  It was a length back to Thunder Gultch in third, then another neck to Changing Times in fourth.  Ten lengths covered the twenty combatants. 

   The gate was full, the flag went up… you could hear the anticipation in the crowd… off and running in the KYD.  Showing early speed, Pluckzy gained the rail with Dwindle between horses, Individuation on his flank, then a gap to the foursome of Thunder Gultch from the inside of Gigabyte, Shadow Police next to that one and Cheveley Park four wide.  Just in behind that group, Mickey from the outside, Mr Pancake on the rail, then Distorted Reasoning and Changing Times between those, another gap to Up In Smoke on the rail, Ideal Info next to that one, Ocean Of Wisdom four wide, Federation towards his inside, then Everymanforhimself widest of all.  All Take was next, then in behind that one, the trailing trio of Sunshine Scooter, Come To Poppa and Grouse Mountain was the early trailer.

The headed into the clubhouse turn, now seven furlongs to run and Dwindle with a neck in front between Individuation from the outside, Pluckzy from the rail, then a gap of two Thunder Gultch tracking that trio of leaders from the inside, Gigabyte next to that one, Shadow Police three wide and Cheveley Park four wide.  Another length and a half, Mr Pancake on the inside of Distorted Reasoning, Mickey caught five wide, Changing Times and Ocean Of Wisdom between horses in that grouping, another length to Ideal Info, then a length and a half to All Take between Federation from the outside, Up In Smoke on the rail, another length to Everymanforhimself on the outside of Sunshine Scooter and Come To Pappa, as Grouse Mountain continued to be the back marker.

Now midway down the backside, four and a half furlongs to run and Individuation had moved out to a length and a half lead, Dwindle in second, Pluckzy still skimming the rail in third, then a gap to Gigabyte next to Thunder Gultch.  Another length and a half to a lineup that included Cheveley Park on the outside of Shadow Police, Distorted Reasoning next on her inside, Mr Pancake on the rail.  Mickey still out wide, Changing Times, Ocean Of Wisdom between that pair, then down to the rail for Ideal Info, outside, to Everymanforhimself.  Another length back to All Take between Federation on his outside, Up In Smoke still saving ground on the rail, outside for Grouse Mountain, Come To Poppa on his inside and Sunshine Scooter was now at the back.

Around the far turn and to the top of the lane, two furlongs to the wire and Individuation had opened up a three length advantage.  Gigabyte immerging from the pack and now pressing forward.  Pluckzy along the inside in third as Dwindle lost some ground, and a string was fanning out for the drive that included Thunder Gultch, Distorted Reasoning, Cheveley Park and Mickey, widest of all.  Back towards the inside, Mr Pancake edging up, Shadow Police out wider with Changing Times between that pair,

Inside the furlong marker, Individuation continuing to show the way by a length, Gigabyte looking like the only threat as these two had a wall of horses held at bay… Thunder Gultch down the center of the track, Distorted Reasoning on his outside, Mr Pancake trying to find more up the rail… but they were all running out of real estate, as the shadow of the finish line was on them.

Late stretch and to the wire, Individuation leading, Gigabyte closing in with every stride, and with two jumps to go, these two were looking each other in the eye…that pair hit the wire as one, and it was too close to call… the PHOTO sign was illuminated on the tote board.  After viewing the photograph, Gigabyte was able to get up in the closing stride and took the win by the absolute narrowest of margins, giving Smokey Stover the first TC win!!  Individuation was a tough-luck second, but Mb Stables had absolutely no reason to be dejected… his horse gave everything on this evening.  Thunder Gultch was a length back in third with Changing Times closing for the fourth spot.  Mr Pancake proved he can be tough on a dry track and took the fifth spot, Distorted Reasoning was sixth, Cheveley Park seventh, then a nose to Mickey in eighth.  Ocean Of Wisdom was ninth, Federation tenth, Up In Smoke eleventh, Pluckzy tiring to be twelfth, Shadow Police thirteenth, Ideal Info fourteenth, Dwindle fifteenth, Everymanforhimself sixteenth, All Take seventeenth, Come To Poppa eighteenths, Grouse Mountain nineteenth and Sunshine Scooter closed this one out. 

Gigabyte is a 3yo gray gelded son of Con Artist – Gigafactory by Cherokee Sunset, and he was bred in Florida by his owner, Smokey Stover.  This was his first win of the season, and oh what a win it was… his third win of his career, and he now has earnings of $2,347.120.  He’s never been off of the board in his career and looks like a force to be reckoned with as we continue down the TC Trail.  Congratulations to the connections!!

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast                Fractions: :47⁴  1:11³  1:35⁴   Final Time:   2:01²
Winner:  Gigabyte, gray gelding, by Con Artist – Gigafactory, by Cherokee Sunset
Breeder: Smokey Stover    Owner: Smokey Stover
$1 Exacta: 10 – 17 Paid 153.90           $1 Trifecta: 10 – 17 – 4 Paid 1,578.60
Scratched Horses: Good Guy, The Martian

Gigabyte showed enough early speed to save ground into the clubhouse turn, racing 2p, gained ground down the backside moving to 3p into the far turn, continued to advance down the lane catching the leader inside the final 150-yards, up in the last strides, won photo.  Individuation broke alertly 3p behind the early leader, moved up to engage the leader into the back stretch, took over from there, extending his lead into the lane, continued to show the way with a furlong to run, run down by foe late, just missed in a photo.  Thunder Gultch was able to secure a rail position just behind the leading trio, continued to save ground to the far turn, move to 3p to avoid tiring foes into the lane, best of rest.   Changing Times raced midpack 3p, continued unhurried down the backside and through the far turn, late rush to gain position.  Mr Pancake gained rail position while racing just behind the pace, continued to save ground throughout, evenly.  Distorted Reasoning raced 2p early and through the turn, just behind the pace, fanned out for the drive, no excuse.  Cheveley Park forwardly placed, wide trip, evenly.  Mickey widest of all, trip cost better finish.  Ocean Of Wisdom even effort, no threat.  Federation was not a factor.  Up In Smoke saved ground, not a factor.  Pluckzy sharp break, flashed speed, tired.  Shadow Police showed early interest, tired.  Ideal Info was no factor.  Dwindle on/near pace to the far turn, tired from those early efforts.  Everymanforhimself was outrun.  All Take was outrun.  Come To Poppa was outrun.  Grouse Mountain was outrun.  Sunshine Scooter was outrun. 

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES, TC 2021-2023, THE TRIPLE CROWN