9/12/2020

   4   KD    KD Turf Cup (GIII)

    $1,000.000         3yo&Up       1 1/2m  Turf            3yo 119lbs  Older 122lbs

That Mb Stables fellow seems to be an up-and-comer… ok, enough with the jokes.  Big money, big races… expect the big barn to be right there and Immoral proved to be a bit more than “there”, taking the KD Tuf Cup (GIII) and the bulk of the $1,000.000 purse, getting home by two lengths in a final time of 2:29.48 for the mile and a half over a strip labeled Yielding.  Annihilator had been near the pace, took the lead turning for home, but could not hold off the winner, taking the second spot by a length over 22/1 shot Clever Me. 

We had eleven in the gate as Momentus scratched out of this one and as they got away here in the fields of southern-most Kentucky, post time favorite Raj Action Packed was on the early gas from the outside, Billy Joel going with him, Annihilator just in behind that duo, Baelish, Falling Angel, So Lovely and Immoral towards the inside, Scarlet Devil on the outside of that one, Clever Me and Bobs Ticket was the early back marker. 

Making their way to the hairpin and onto the backside with a mile and a sixteenth to run, Raj Action Packed in front by three-quarters of a length, Billy Joel got to the rail and tracked the leader, two lengths back to Annihilator, another couple of lengths back to the trio of Baelish three wide, So Lonely between horses and Falling Angel on the rail.  Two more lengths back to Immoral on the inside of Scarlet Devil three wide and Clever Me between those, another length back to Pure Gifts and Bobs Ticket continued to trail, eleven lengths covered this group.

Now making their way down the hill and up to the big bend, there were five furlongs to go and Raj Action Packed had led throughout, now by two lengths.  Billy Joel losing some ground but tracking the leader, Annihilator moving up on that one. then a gap of three back to So Lonely between horses, Falling Angel on the rail Baelish three wide, then a gap of two back to Immoral saving ground, Scarlet Devil three wide, Clever Me between that pair, then two more back to the trailing pair of Pure Gifts and Bobs Ticket.

They were making their way around the big bend and to the top of the lane, two furlongs left to run and Raj Action Packed had carried the torch long enough as Annihilator moved up to stick a head in front.  Billy Joel in good position between horses just behind that duo, Falling Angel on his outside, Immoral moving up on the rail, another length to Scarlet Devil out widest of all, So Lonely to his inside, Clever Me trying to rally from the inside, Bobs Ticket now finding some interest, then a long gap back to the trailing pair of Pure Gifts and Baelish.

Deep stretch and to the finish, the rail was on fire as Immoral snuck up quickly and took the lead, Annihilator tried to dig in to make a race of it, but not today… Immoral showed his love for a wet surface and went under the wire clear by two lengths.  Annihilator took second, a length in front of the fast closing Clever Me.  Scarlet Devil was a neck back in fourth, Bobs Ticket in fifth, Raj Action Packed tiring to sixth, Falling Angel seventh, Billy Joel flattening out to be eighth, So Lonely ninth, Pure Gifts tenth and Baelish closed this one out. 

Immoral is a 3yo bay gelded son of No Doubt About It – Noble Moment, by Moment Of Madness, and he was bred by his owner, Mb Stables, in Cal.  This was his sixth win from twelve starts, and he has earnings of $2,127.260.  This makes back-to-back $1,000.000 purse race wins… quite an accomplishment.

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Yielding                Time: :48⁴  1:13²  2:04¹  2:29²
$1 Exacta: 3 – 7 Paid 75.20                  $1 Trifecta: 3 – 7 – 6 Paid 1,278.30
Scratched: Momentus

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES