Keen Ice Shocks, Private Zone Sizzles, Sheer Drama Shines

THE WEEKEND’S BEST STORIES

August 28th – 30th

Keen Ice Shocks, Defeating American Pharoah In Travers Stakes

One of the most anticipated races of the year resulted in a major upset when Triple Crown winner American Pharoah was overcome by Keen Ice just feet before the wire.

Donegal Racing’s three-year-old son, by Curlin, ran a big race in last month’s Haskell Invitational, finishing just 2 ¼ lengths behind American Pharoah. But the colt shocked a packed house at Saratoga when he kicked into high gear in the middle of the stretch and flew past to win by ¾’s of a length.

The race played out slightly different than horse racing fans had expected when Frosted, runner-up in the Belmont Stakes, went out to chase American Pharoah and did not quit. The grey son of Tapit pressed the odds on favorite all the way around the track, sticking his nose in front of the Triple Crown winner at points on the second turn. But despite his gallant effort, Frosted could not put him away and dropped back moments after the quarter-pole. He held off Upstart to finish third.

In his most impressive performance to date, Keen Ice, ridden by Javier Castellano, settled into mid-pack while the frontrunners dueled in the lead. The pace was not hot (the half in :48.30 and mile in 1:35.08), but the energy spent up front was evident as the field made its way to the top of the stretch. Keen Ice started his run around the mile mark and let out a final burst of speed that catapulted him past Frosted and American Pharoah. He hit the wire in a final time of 2:01.57.

Bred by Glencrest Farms and trained by Dale Romans, Keen Ice has career earnings of $1,490,395. The Travers marks his second career win, first graded stakes win, first grade one win and first win since breaking his maiden last September at Churchill Downs.

Payouts for the race:
Keen Ice ————- $34.00 win, $6.50 place, $3.80 show
American Pharoah —————- $2.40 place, $2.10 show
Frosted  ————————————— $3.20 show

$2 Trifecta → $180.00

Sheer Drama Fantastic in Personal Ensign

Saratoga sported a card full of talent on Saturday, August 29th. While most of the eyes were on the boys, the fillies did not disappoint in the slightest as Sheer Drama, with Joe Bravo aboard, took her second straight Gr. 1 victory in the Personal Ensign.

Stopchargingmaria and Untapable, last year’s Kentucky Oaks and Breeder’s Cup Distaff winner, went straight to the front and stayed there together as Sheer Drama settled down behind them. Stopchargingmaria stayed ahead of Untapable by about half a length as they hit the turn, but neither could hold off Sheer Drama. Finishing 1 ¼ lengths behind the David Fawkes-trained mare, Got Lucky, most recently the winner of the Lady’s Secret Stakes at Monmouth on August 2, was the runner-up with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons. Untapable was a neck behind in third, while Stopchargingmaria tired and faded to fourth.

Sheer Drama’s victory in the Personal Ensign secures her a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. The five-year-old chestnut daughter of Burning Roma has started seven times this year, finishing no worse than second. This is her third graded stakes victory and second G1. To date she has $1,318,840 in earnings.

Unbridled Forever Gets Breakthrough in Ballerina

Charles Fipke’s 4-year-old homebred, Unbridled Forever, crossed off two goals in one go as she crossed the wire in the Gr. 1 Ballerina. The win was the grey filly’s first victory in a Gr. 1 stakes and her first victory in a graded stakes race.

In 2014 Unbridled Forever knocked on the door as she ran second to Stopchargingmaria in the Gr. 1 Coaching Club American Oaks and frequently hit the board in other stakes races, including a third place finish to Untapable in the Gr. 1 Kentucky Oaks.

The daughter of Unbridled’s Song won her first race of 2015 a few weeks ago in the Shine Again Stakes, also at Saratoga, with John Velazquez in the saddle. Through much of the Ballerina, Unbridled Forever and Velazquez sat at the back of the field, waiting to make their move. Sarah Sis led for most of the seven-furlong race setting fractions of :23.10, :46.04, and 1:10:17. She appeared to have the race in the bag until Unbridled Forever flew past her, taking the race by a length. Kiss to Remember was second and Room for Me was third.

The Ballerina was a “Win and You’re In,” earning Unbridled Forever a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

Payouts for the race:
Unbridled Forever —— $8.20 win, $4.40 place, $2.90 show
Kiss to Remember —————– $9.60 place, $5.60 show
Room for Me  ———————————– $4.70 show

$2 Trifecta → $361.50

Runhappy Romps in King’s Bishop

Not many top horses run without Lasix these days, but the Maria Borell trained Runhappy performs completely off the medication – and he does so well.

The three-year-old son of Super Saver came into the King’s Bishop off a victory in an allowance optional claiming race at Ellis Park. The colt, with Edgar Prado in the saddle, was content to let Limousine Liberal have the lead until the first quarter was up (run in :22.43), then the chain of command shifted. Runhappy took the half in :44.54 and three-quarters in 1:08.17 before drawing away to win by four lengths in a final time of 1:20.54.

Limousine Liberal was second and 5-2 favorite Holy Boss was another two lengths back in third.

Payouts for the race:
Runhappy ———- $24.50 win, $13.80 place, $6.70 show
Limousine Liberal ————– $16.00 place, $8.70 show
Holy Boss  ———————————– $3.90 show

$2 Trifecta → $2,138.00

Private Zone Good As Ever in Forego

Private Zone could have stopped to let jockey Martin Pedroza get a hotdog and still have made it to the wire first on Saturday as he claimed his third grade one victory this year and his fourth overall. The six-year-old gelded son of Macho Uno was unchallenged as he went to the lead and remained there throughout the race, finishing 3 ¾ lengths ahead of The Big Beast and Viva Majorca.

The Forego was another “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup, qualifying Private Zone for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, where he finished third in 2014 and tenth in 2013.

2012 Super Derby (Gr.2) winner Bourbon Courage unseated jockey Joel Rosario during the race and was thus noted as DNF. Rosario walked into the ambulance and was taken to the hospital following the spill, unable to ride the rest of his mounts for the afternoon. He was scheduled to ride Twilight Eclipse in the Gr. 1 Sword Dancer, Frosted in the Gr. 1 Travers, and Coffee Clique in the Gr. 2 Ballston Spa. Jockeys Javier Castellano, Jose Lezcano, and Manny Franco took the mounts respectively.

Saturday’s Forego marked the gelding’s 30th career start, putting his career earnings at $2,608,120. Bred by Adena Springs, Private Zone returned $5.20 for the win.

Away From Treve, Flintshire Soars in Sword Dancer

Juddmonte Farms is known for having quality horses and Flintshire is no exception. The homebred son of Dansili (GB) has been putting in good efforts to many of the best horses in Europe and took full advantage of the opportunity, putting his best foot forward in Saturday’s Gr. 1 Sword Dancer.

The five-year-old bay earned a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, a race he finished second in last year when he ran against Main Sequence. This was his third grade one victory and his fifth win in 17 starts. Each of his grade one stakes wins has come in a different place: Dubai, Hong Kong, and North America.

In the race, Flintshire broke awkwardly and settled into a stalking position, staying along the hedge throughout much of the 1 ½-mile distance of the Sword Dancer. As they came around the turn, jockey Vincent Cheminaud lit the fuse and his mount quickly took command of the race, putting Guardini away easily and cruising home 2 ½ lengths ahead of second choice Red Rifle. Twilight Eclipse was third.

The final time for the race was 2:23.77.

Stellar Wind Back On Top In Torrey Pines Stakes

The multiple graded stakes winning daughter of Curlin, Stellar Wind returned to the track following a two-month break to win the Gr. 3 Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar on Sunday, August 30th.

The three-year-old filly, trained by John Sadler, went out to stalk Ultimate Holiday, who ran the half in :46.83 before tiring at the ¾ mark. Stellar Wind went on to set remaining fractions of 1:11.35 and 1:23.67, and a final time of 1:36.43. Victor Espinoza was aboard for the 4 ¼-length victory.

Big Book, trained by Tim Yakteen, finished second. Rattataptap, trained by Philip D’Amato, finished third.

Dacita Edges Out Tepin In US Debut

Chilean-bred Dacita made the most of her U.S. debut, winning the Gr.2 Ballston Spa Stakes by the bob of a head over Casse-trained and heavy favorite Tepin.

Kitten’s Queen, piloted by Jose Ortiz, set fractions of :47.35, 1:10.78 and 1:33.62 and was stalked closely by Tepin, who took over on the homestretch and held the lead by a half length before being robbed of the victory by ferocious closer Dacita.

The four-year-old, by Scat Daddy, sat eighth and second-to-last for approximately one mile out of the 1 1/16-mile length race before surging to the lead in impressive manner that left Mark Casse’s Tepin confused as to what had occurred.

Trained by Chad Brown, Dacita has won seven of ten career starts. Saturday’s Ballston marked her first victory on U.S. soil for Sheep Pond Partners and Bradley Thoroughbreds. The win returned $17.00.

My Miss Sophia finished in third.

Photo of Keen Ice: 90 North Racing

 Follow us on Twitter @EverythingEqLLC