December 15, 2015

Coming off a fifth in the Gold Cup at DED, and carrying more weight that anyone, it seemed like a tough prospect for King Ring to run down loose-on-the-lead speed but with resolute determination, the four-year-old son of Asakusa King came on in the last jump to win the LCD Classic and end a solid year of racing. Purchased for only $5.000, he has become a solid LA-bred runner for Night Rider Stables and now sports almost $175.000 in career earnings and two huge speed ratings as well, including the 99-mark earned in this nose victory.

Everyone broke out of the FG starting gate well in the Classic but Silver Dust (*1.70) quickly took back and that left Another Chance (3.75) to dictate the pace outside with King Ring (1.90) to his inside. As the leader sprinted almost three-lengths clear in the opening furlongs, the back markers held their position for the long journey and it was past a half-mile in 48.65 before King Ring started to even inch forward. Everyone was in single file going into the far turn with Another Chance in complete control but as six-furlongs came up in 1:12.31, the leader shifted into the two-wide path and that proved to be the difference. Outcast Colonist (2.80) tried to make a run into the lane as Silver Dust swung wide but the long stretch proved too much for them and in the end, too much for the leader as well when Ring King, fresh up the rail, came with longer strides to upend Another Chance in the last jump, scoring by a nose. Silver Dust came wide for third while Outcast Colonist might have found the distance a little too long while fourth but at the wire, the top two were the stars with neither deserving to lose.

King Ring had the experience but Another Chance had the crowd on their side and at the end of nine-furlongs in the LCD Classic, each was a deserving winner in their own respective ranks. For King Ring, it was validation after a tough Gold Cup at DED and an excellent way to cap off a good season; for Another Chance, it continued the excellent start for owner On The Map Racing as their look to build to a big 2016, especially with some new stable stars under their belt.

Congratulations goes out to owner Night Rider Stables and their four-year-old gelding King Ring, a last gasp winner of the LCD Classic at FG!

Prediction                  King Ring / Another Chance / Silver Dust

Winner                       King Ring

                                      Four-year-old gray gelding

                                      Asakusa King-Gina Gem (Auto-Generated)

Owner                         Night Rider Stables

Time                            48.65, 1:12.31, 1:36.43, 1:48.95

Overall

King Ring                   1.90 sat midpack, came up fence, in time

Another Chance       3.75 set modest splits, caught late

Silver Dust                  *1.70 far back early, rallied for third

Outcast Colonist       2.80 no late momentum

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES