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Spicy Ball Runs Hot In KD Turf Dash

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KD Turf Dash (Grade 3)- $400.000 Purse
KD- For Three Year Olds and Upward
Six and a Half Furlongs on the Turf
September 9, 2017

This was the first time that the KD Turf Dash had a graded designation, after running the last two years as an ungraded stake with a high purse. The $400.000 was indeed very appealing for these turf sprinters, and it led to the starting gate being full. That’s just how Spicy Ball liked it, as in his last race, also against a full field, he was impressive in a third race run, at seven furlongs, in what was a return trip to graded competition after a long break away from it. That got his trainer, John Henry, feeling very good about his here, and with the help of jockey J R Velazquez, they are all winners in the KD Turf Dash. Congratulations to them! The time of the race was 1:14.13, the quickest of the three races run so far. Let’s take a look!

(1/4 Mile- :22.78)- There was no stopping Sir Mekki out of the starting gate. This Jader Stable entry was quick immediately, and jumped out to a length and a half lead over a group of three that did not start that badly themselves. Turn Ninnie would be second here for TwinTowersRacing, running to the outside of third place Mucho Knowledge (Estero Farms) and Generosity (Maxmillion Farm). Our eventual winner, Spicy Ball was another length behind, tucked in to the middle of the field, three and a half lengths out for John Henry, while All Out Blitz (Mb Stables) ran alongside her. Next was Forty Nine Percent (Scarletandgratstable) along the rail while Neto (D J C Racing Stables) was caught wide. Swamp Fox (Blushing Meadows) and Freak Storm (Mo Mentum Farm) ran with them, while the filly, Broken Chai (Mb Stables) raced at the back. Round The Champion may have stumbled out of the gate for Threshold.

(½ Mile, :45.38, Top Of Stretch, 2F To Go)- Sir Mekki has no problem handling the turn and continues to lead as we moved into the stretch, but Turn Ninnie started to get a little closer on the outside. Generosity had a comfortable position on the rail, while Mucho Knowledge looked to capitalize on an opening between the two, as she wanted to advance from third. Spicy Ball was fifth, and had gotten a length closer, but had still not made her winning charge to the front. Several of them, in the thick of the pack seemed to just hold their ground, with the big story looming here being the advancement of Broken Chai. She had caught up to the pack and was full of run, looking for the perfect lane to strike. Round The Champion remained at the back.

(Finish- 1:14.13)- In the middle of the race track, Spicy Ball now looked to make his move, and the option would be to split between Mucho Knowledge and Turn Ninnie, and it did not look like there was much room there. His approach made by Turn Ninnie drift a tad to the outside, and Spicy Ball took command and took over the lead. Just as it may have seem safe to call him the winner, here comes that filly flying along the rail. Broken Chai really ran a great race, and created a thrill for us at the end, but could only beat all but one of the boys here today. Spicy Ball prevails in this close finish for the win! Third through seventh is your classic HRP jumbo finish. Freak Storm prevails over Generosity, then Turn Ninnie, then Swamp Fox, and finally Mucho Knowledge. Any of them could have been third. Sir Mekki fizzled to eighth. The rest were also-rans on this day. The running order concludes by reading All Out Blitz, Forty Nine Percent, Neto, and Round The Champion.

About The Winner: Spicy Ball, trained by John Henry and ridden by J R Velazquez, is a four year old colt by Chrystal Ball and out of New Spice. He was bred in Texas as a second quarter two year old by Mcl Stables, and was acquired by John Henry via private sales for $55.000 in July 2016. Congratulations to the connections! Spicy Ball has now won eight of 21 career races, and this is his first graded victory! His career earnings now sit at $548.070.

##   Horse Name Owner Name Jockey Odds   Fin Time SRF 
3
  Spicy Ball John Henry Velazquez J R 5.40   11/2 1:14.13  
10
  Broken Chai Mb Stables Ortiz I Jr 7.55   21/2 1:14.26  
8
  Freak Storm Mo Mentum Farm Pennington F 31.70   3no 1:14.38  
2
  Generosity Maxmillion Farm Maldonado E 3.00   4hd 1:14.40  
6
  Turn Ninnie TwinTowersRacing Bejarano R 21.15   5no 1:14.43  
7
  Swamp Fox Blushing Meadows Moran D 8.65   5no 1:14.43  
5
  Mucho Knowledge Estero Farms Husbands P 6.95   7nk 1:14.45  
9
  Sir Mekki Jader Stable Ocasio L M 10.85   81/2 1:14.52  
4
  All Out Blitz Mb Stables Albarado R J 7.30   9nk 1:14.64  
1
  Forty Nine Percent Scarletandgraystable Colon L H 19.05   101/2 1:14.71  
11
  Neto D J C Racing Stables Boulanger G 14.35   11no 1:14.85  
12
  Round The Champion Threshold Desormeaux K J 30.45   12 1:14.86  


Track: Firm
Time: :223  :451  1:082  1:14

$2 Mutuel Prices:

3 – Spicy Ball 12.80 6.30 4.30
10 – Broken Chai   7.10 5.60
8 – Freak Storm     31.80


$1 Exacta: 3 – 10 Paid 38.30
$1 Trifecta: 3 – 10 – 8 Paid 1,234.10

Scratched: None

— NS

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Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES