After taking first prize in the 2005 Lane's End Stakes, Turfway's springtime Grade II race, trainer Todd Pletcher returned to take the centerpiece of the fall meet as well, sending Shaniko out to victory in the Grade II $350,000 Kentucky Cup Classic. It was the four-year-old colt's first stakes win. The colt is owned by Aaron and Marie Jones.
After sitting nice and easy behind front-running Ball Four, Shaniko closed into that rival and effortlessly pulled away to a 4 1/2-length victory, leaving jockey Rafael Bejarano merely a passenger. Ball Four held on for a gritty second place, with Silver Axe closing for third.
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Winning trainer Todd Pletcher said, "Everything unfolded perfectly. We got exactly the trip we wanted to get. He punched when the time came." Winning jockey Rafael Bejarano added, "I stayed in the second lane, because my horse doesn't like getting dirt in his face. I got him comfortable, and I knew I had a lot of horse, so I waited to the quarter pole to take off."
The even-money favorite, Shaniko completed the 1-1/8 mile race in 1:49.74 over the Polytrack all-weather surface, which is always rated fast.
Turfway Breeders' Cup Stakes
After getting a much needed and deserved spring vacation on owner Jane Lyon's Summerwind Farm, Miss Fortunate looked like a fresh horse as she held on to win the Grade III $175,000 Turfway Breeders' Cup Stakes by half a length.
Making her second start off a sixth-month freshening for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, Miss Fortunate closed from sixth and had enough left to hold off Sheer Luck. Whoopi Cat checked in third, another neck back, in the closest finish on Turfway's Saturday card.
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Winning jockey Larry Melancon said, "I knew I had horse all the way. When I called on her, she was there. Billy (trainer Mott) really had her ready."
Miss Fortunate, the 9-2 second choice, paid $11.00, $5.80, $4.00. She finished the 1-1/16 mile race in 1:44.48.
Kentucky Cup Juvenile
Former college basketball standout player Bobby Hurley arrived at the Turfway track just minutes before his horse Stream Cat went to the track for the 12th running of the Grade III $100,000 Kentucky Cup Juvenile. Hurley is part owner of Stream Cat, with Derby Dream Stable and Fab Oak Stable.
Stream Cat, a two-year-old with a dynamic closing kick, apparently shares the same sense of drama that Hurley displayed at Duke. After trailing through much of the race, he engulfed the field, running up the middle of the racetrack to defeat 29-1 longshot Rungius by 1-3/4 lengths. Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens was aboard for the ride. Stream Cat is now one of three horses trainer Patrick Biancone is considering for a run in the 2005 Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
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Winning jockey Gary Stevens said, "I had a lot of faith in his closing ability. When you give him the cue, he switches gears like a pro. The Polytrack is not just for turf horses, although it does give turf horses the ability to show their best." Winning trainer Patrick Biancone added, "Last time he was a turf horse. This time he was a Polytrack horse. Next time, hopefully, he'll be a dirt horse."
Stream Cat, the second choice at 5-2, paid $7.00, $4.40, and $3.80. He completed the 1-1/16 mile race in 1:46.42.
Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies
Two fillies with one-mile wins on the turf but very different running styles finished one-two in the $100,000 Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies. Beau Dare, who broke her maiden last out at Arlington Park, took an easy early lead, steadily widened her advantage, and drew off to win by 6 1/4 lengths over Delicate Dynamite. Delicate Dynamite, whose mile win came on the turf at Ellis Park in her very first start, used her closing style to take a hard-fought second, finishing just 3/4 of a length ahead of Joint Effort.
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Beau Dare is trained by Bob Holthus, who last year won both the Kentucky Cup Juvenile and the Kentucky Cup Sprint. The winning rider was Cincinnati native John McKee, who was aboard Holthus's horses for the wins last year as well and has ridden Beau Dare in each of her three starts. Beau Dare is owned by Walts David Stable LLC.
Beau Dare, the fourth choice at 8-1, paid $18.20, $8.80, and $5.00. She finished the race in 1:38.93.
Kentucky Cup Sprint
Estate Collection went directly to the lead and fought to keep it in the Grade III $100,000 Kentucky Cup Sprint, winning by 3/4 of a length over gutsy 23-1 longshot Humor at Last, who moved from mid-pack to take second. Going Wild finished third.
Results Chart
Trained by Doug O'Neill for owner Pablo Suarez, Estate Collection was the 9-5 co-favorite with Vicarage, who finished fourth. Estate Collection paid $5.60, $4.80, $3.80. He covered the six furlongs in 1:09.75 under jockey Patrick Valenzuela. The complete order of finish in the Sprint: Estate Collection, Humor at Last, Going Wild, Vicarage, Storm Surge, Go for Aly, Lunarpal.
