King Zachary's first foray into graded stakes company didn't go well, but his second sure did as the progressive colt uncorked a powerful three-wide bid into the lane before cruising past his competition to score convincingly in Saturday evening's GIII Matt Winn S.
The chestnut broke through at third asking on the stretch out at Gulfstream Mar. 18, but faded to a distant sixth in Aqueduct's GII Wood Memorial S. behind Vino Rosso (Curlin) Apr. 7. While he failed to make the GI Kentucky Derby, he returned in the race that immediately followed it here May 5, and rallied to take that optional claimer in the slop by a half-length.
Looking to become the third sophomore to exit that race a next-out winner, the chestnut broke well and shared early pacesetting duties along the rail with stablemate Tiz Mischief before being reined in by Robby Albarado to sit third behind that one and heavy favorite Ax Man through a half in :48.09.
The leading pair seemed to be separating themselves from the rest approaching the straight, but King Zachary woke up past the quarter pole and flew by those two before running up the score.
“This horse keeps getting better with each start,” Albarado said. “I can't thank Dale and Mr. Conway enough for letting me ride this horse. I think we are setting ourselves up for a big year with this horse. Dale gave me a lot of confidence this week. When Corey went to the lead with Tiz Mischief I just settled and sat right off the pace. It worked perfectly.”
Dale Romans, who seemed most concerned in the post-race interview with what the exacta made up of his two trainees paid ($189.40), added, “What a race. King Zachary just keeps getting better every time we see him. I was confident entering the race that he'd run a big effort. I know Ax Man was the horse to beat, but was confident with my horses. Tiz Mischief was a real surprise. He proved himself tonight that he can compete with some of the best 3-year-olds in the country.”
Saturday, Churchill Downs
MATT WINN S.-GIII, $100,000, Churchill Downs, 6-16, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:42.86, ft.
1–KING ZACHARY, 118, c, 3, by Curlin">Curlin
1st Dam: On My Way, by Giant's Causeway
2nd Dam: It's Our Time, by Seeking the Gold
3rd Dam: Leo's Lucky Lady, by Seattle Slew
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($550,000
Ylg '16 KEESEP). O-Thomas F. Conway; B-Waymore LLC (KY);
T-Dale L. Romans; J-Robby Albarado. $61,380. Lifetime Record:
6-3-0-2, $172,650. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”eaton-sold”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″]2–Tiz Mischief, 118, c, 3, Into Mischief–Indivia, by Tiznow.
($55,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP). O-Frank L. Jones, Jr.; B-T/C Stable,
LLC (KY); T-Dale L. Romans. $19,800.
3–Ax Man, 120, c, 3, Misremembered–Shameful, by Flying
Chevron. O-Earnhardt III, Patti and Hal J.; B-Hal J Earnhardt
(KY); T-Bob Baffert. $9,900.[bullet ad=”hillndale-foaled-raised”]Margins: 4 3/4, 8, NK. Odds: 12.30, 10.50, 0.50.
Also Ran: Funny Duck, Combatant, Home Base. Scratched: Navy Armed Guard. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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