May 2nd, 2020

CD 7    The KYD (GI)

 $3,000.000       3YO       1 1/4m Dirt        126lbs   Preference to TC-KYD Qualifications

As I said… It’s a crazy crazy crazy crazy world right now…  and it got a bit crazier on Saturday evening.  Sent off at 47/1 odds, Nakamura Stables Royal Assembly closed from the clouds, winning The KYD (GI) by two lengths in a final time of 2:01.53 in a race that saw a suicidal pace, unfathomable splits and a race that has most of the HRP community wondering just what happened.  Class Edge, parked out in the twenty post position and sent off at 22/1 odds also came from way back to grab the second spot, with Spirited Stride a neck back in third, then two lengths to Boardwalk in fourth.

The gate was at capacity… twenty of the absolute best three year olds in the game, ready to go the mile and a quarter here at CD… and with the ring of the bell, the snap of the gates and the whistle of the jockeys, we were off and running in The 2020 KYD.  There was no shortage of horses looking for the early lead with Scafati was away quickly from the outside, a line of five towards the inside with Geronimo, Bound Bay, Steak And Potatoes, Laffin Her and Chai Morning.  Back to the outside with Tudor One on the leaders outside, City Sniper, Charleys Latte, and Brittle.  Then a bit of a gap, along the rail Into Mischief looking for the rail, then another gap back to a line that included Spirited Stride, Remson, Groovy next to that one, Royal Assembly towards the outside of that group and Boardwalk on the rail.  The next trio included Anoush Command, Notorious Temper and Orion Nebula between that pair, as Class Edge was the early trailer.

They made their way around the clubhouse turn and were nearing the back stretch with six furlongs to run… the opening quarter went in an absolute blistering :44.45… and Scafati was showing the way by about a length.  Geronimo towards his inside, Tudor One on his outside, then a length back to Laffin Hero along the rail.  Another length and a quarter to Laffin Hero skimming the inside, Chai Morning between horses and Bound Bay three wide.  Steak And Potatoes just in behind that trio, then an length and a half to Brittle.  Charleys Latte on his outside and City Sniper in between that pair.  It was another gap of three back to Into Mischief, a long gap back to Spirited Stride, Royal Assembly on his outside, then Boardwalk, Notorious Temper, Class Edge, Remson, Groovy, Orion Nebula and Anoush Command was now the back marker.

Now making their way down the backs, just a half mile left to run and they had covered the first six furlongs in… no, no no… 1.08.23, just an unbelievable pace!  Scafati continued to do all of the heavy lifting, in front by three-quarters of a length.  Tudor One on his outside, Geronimo on his inside and Laffin Hero up the rail, all in hot pursuit.  Another length and a half back to Chai Morning, three wide, Bound Bay on his outside, Steak And Potatoes on his inside and Brittle skimming the rail.  Charleys Latte four wide and right in behind that group, A length back to City Sniper hugging the rail, two more back to Into Mischief.  It was another long gap back to Royal Assembly, Spirited Stride, Boardwalk and Notorious Temper.  Class Edge was next, Groovy, Orion Nebula and Anoush Command could still see them all.

Move around the far turn and moving past the quarter pole where the teltimer showed the mile in a blistering 1:34.61, and somehow, Scalati continued to show the way by a length.  Laffin Hero up the inside into second, Charleys Latte fanning seven wide, Brittle and Tudor One to his inside and Geronimo to the inside of that pair.  Bound Bay traveling six wide, Chai Morning on his inside, Royal Assembly out wide and beginning to move forward, Steak And Potatoes was next, City Sniper along the rail.  Another length to Into Mischief, gap of three to Spirited Stride up the rail, then Remson, Boardwalk, Class Edge, Notorious Temper, Anoush Command, Groovy and Orion Nebula drifted back to trail.

Into the stretch… the complexion of this one was changing quickly nearing the three-sixteenth’s pole as the pace had finally taken it’s toll and the closers were set down to take over.  Total Assembly down the center of the track and looking Scalati in the eye, going by that one.  Charleys Latte out wide and Laffin Hero along the Rail, Brittle with a clear shot, as Tudor One began to head in the wrong direction.  Bound Bay wide also headed backwards, Steak And Potatoes was next, Chai Morning between that pair.  Three along the inside that included the tiring Geronimo, City Sniper between horses and Spirited Stride up the rail.  Into Mischief was next the Remson, Boardwalk, Class Edge, Notorious Temper, Anoush Command, Groovy and Orion Nebula.

Deep stretch and to the wire, Royal Assembly, wide enough for the fans to see him up close and personal, but he was clear and nobody was going to give him as much as a tussle, as the black gelded son of Hispaniola went under the wire to take the 17th running of the KYD by two lengths.  Class Edge also closed from a very wide position and grabbed the second spot over Spirited Stride who just couldn’t find more and settled for third.  Boardwalk closed down the inside, coming from far back to grab fourth, just a nose better than his stable-mate and fellow closer, Anoush Command fifth.  Remson was sixth, Groovy seventh, Orion Nebula eighth, Charleys Latte ninth.  Info Mischief was a nose back in tenth, Notorious Temp was eleventh, then Brittle in twelfth.  Laffin Hero was thirteenth, City Sniper fourteenth, Steak And Potatoes fifteenth, pace setter Scafati tiring to sixteenth, Bound Bay seventeenth, Chai Morning eighteenth, Tudor One nineteenth and Geronimo closed out the field.

Royal Assembly is a 3yo black gelding by Hispaniola – Royal Debutante, by Greek Knowledge, and he was bred in Cal by his owner, Nakamura Stables.  That conditioner becomes the first two-time winner of the KYD as he took the 2017 running with Shootfromthehip.  This was the fourth victory for this charge, from his ten lifetime starts, and he now shows earnings of $2,482.920.  It should be noted again that you could have claimed this horse for both $30.000 and $65.000 as he was making his way to his maiden victory, back last fall.  Congratulations to Nakamura Stables and Royal Assembly.

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast        Time: :44²  1:08¹  1:34³  2:01²
$1 Exacta: 13 – 20 Paid 1,268.10        $1 Trifecta: 13 – 20 – 3 Paid 1,836.90
Scratched: Angelsinheaven, Better Back Off

Royal Assembly was void of early speed, taken will off of the pace, unhurried while outrun through the back stretch, moved to mid-pack on the far turn, began to fan out from the five-sixteenth’s pole while beginning to rally, quickened while widest of all to get even with the leader passing the three-sixteenth’s pole, finding his best stride in the closing furlong and winning under a drive.  Class Edge broke slowest of all, content to stay well behind the pace in a trailing position, continued to be outrun into the lane, began a relentless closing effort from the furlong marker and was full of run to the wire while no threat to the winner.  Spirited Stride under a hold in the middle of the trailing pack, began to move forward into the lane while using rail position to save ground, good late foot.  Boardwalk was taken back to the second flight while unhurried while saving ground, steady gain up the rail, rallied late.  Anoush Command was outrun early, trailed entering the stretch, found racing room along the rail, closing a late gap.  Remson was taken back from the break, moved forward into the lane and closed well while avoiding traffic down the center of the track in a good effort.  Groovy lagged well off of the pace, drifted back to trail at the furlong marker, made a late move up the rail, finding his best stride too late.  Orion Nebula lacked interest to the top of the lane, closed seven wide.  Charleys Latte raced mid-pack, up into contention racing six wide turning into the lane, tired from there.  Into Mischief raced mid-pack, passed tiring rivals while no factor.  Notorious Temper was not a factor.  Brittle well placed while saving ground, good striking position into the lane, nothing from there.  Laffin Hero forwardly placed, in behind the leader into the lane, tired.  City Sniper raced mid-pack to midway on the far turn, tired.  Steak And Potatoes raced mid-pack in the first flight to midway on the far turn, tired. Scafati broker alertly, set a torrid pace, headed at the top of the lane, used up.  Bound Bay away alertly to press the early pace, steady retreat.  Chai Morning forwardly placed to the far turn, tired.  Tudor One broke well, pressed the leader into the far turn while four wide, stopped.  Geronimo pressed the pace to the far turn in the two path, stopped.

Categories: TC 2015-2020