After 6 furlongs, only 3 lengths covered the entire 8 horse field. Discernment was fastest out of the gate with Smooth Linguist and Sandor Clegane right there with him. Smooth Linguist and Discernment hooked up in a duel for first, but didn’t open up on the field. Shoot And Hope, Sandor Clegame and Kick It Up A Notch were virtually stride for stride less than a length behind.

Kick It Up A Notch took the outside route, traveling farther than the others, but avoiding traffic that might have interfered with some others. Nearing the turn, Smooth Linguist stretched the lead to a length over Discernment with Sandor Clegane looking for room on the inside. Kick it Up a Notch slipped back to 5^th, still taking the outside track right behind Discernment.

At the head of the stretch Discernment drew even with Smooth Linguist. The rail opened up but Sandor Clegane had nothing left, while on the outside, Kick It Up A Notch was closing fast. In the final furlong, Shoot And Hope found an opening between the leaders and matched Kick It Up A Notch stride for stride as they both made their bid. They came to the wire 4 across the track with Kick It Up A Notch first by ½ length ahead of Smooth Linguist. Shoot An Hope got up for third.

Kick It Up A Notch won his first graded stakes for owner Mb Stables after 4 attempts. A very consistent gelding handled very consistently by Mb, he hasn’t finished off he board since August 2015. Kick It Up A Notch scored a 99 SRF in winning the Jaipur, the highest of his career.

Complete Order of Finish

Kick it Up A Notch – Came from off the pace to win at the wire

Smooth Linguist – Led at every call but the last one; beaten by ½ length

Shoot And Hope – Stalked the pace throughout to finish 3^rd

Discernment – Contested the pace throughout, then faded to 4^th

Snow Tap – Made a run but too little too late

Sandor Clegane – Never fired

Five Foxes and Klepto – Never a factor

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES