Stacked Deck Dominates Kennedy Road

Stacked Deck | Michael Burns

 Bruce Lunsford homebred Stacked Deck (First Samurai) kicked clear of the field effortlessly down the stretch of the

GII Kennedy Road S. at Woodbine Sunday. The dark bay, who wrapped up his 3-year-old season with a sixth in the 2014 Kennedy Road S., tallied three wins in eight starts this year, including the GIII Bold Venture S. Sept. 13. Most recently, Stacked Deck was third in the rained-off GIII Woodford S. at Keeneland Oct. 3, and never factored when 10th in the

GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Oct. 31. The Barb Minshall trainee was positioned just off dueling leaders down the backstretch of this one and moved into contention on the turn. Swung four wide at the top of the lane, Stacked Deck began his rally, taking control in upper stretch and pulling away for the decisive victory.

“When I saw him in the paddock, I knew he was on his game,” said Minshall. “He's gained weight every race this year. I think he's got stronger every race. He's had a lot of races in the last couple months, but it hasn't taken anything out of him. I told [jockey Luis Contreras] he didn't need the lead, but just don't take him back. Let him get comfortable and see how it sets up. If somebody wanted to go, just let them go. I told him, turning for home, that's when you want to set him down. If he gets in front, he'll be hard to go by.”

Stacked Deck is out of the multiple graded stake winner Bel Air Beauty, and is a half-sibling to the graded stakes placed Valentino Beauty (Vindication). Bel Air Beauty's yearling colt by War Front brought $525,000 from John Ferguson at this year's Keeneland September Sale. She also has a weanling colt by Malibu Moon and was bred to Orb.

 

Sunday, Woodbine

KENNEDY ROAD S.-GII, C$213,600, WO, 11-22, 3yo/up, 6f (AWT), 1:08.34, ft.

1–STACKED DECK, 119, g, 4, by First Samurai

1st Dam: Bel Air Beauty (MGSW, $380,649),

by Smart Strike

2nd Dam: Awe That, by Boundary

3rd Dam: Bangled, by Alysheba

O/B-Bruce Lunsford (KY); T-Barbara J. Minshall; J-Luis

Contreras. C$120,000. Lifetime Record: 17-7-0-3, $401,577.

*1/2 to Valentino Beauty (Vindication), GSP, $191,447. Werk

Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.

2–Passion for Action, 114, c, 3, Speightstown–Maritime

Passion, by Stormy Atlantic. O/B-Benjamin Hutzel (ON);

T-Michael P. De Paulo. C$48,000.

3–Goodoldhockeygame, 118, g, 3, Old Forester–Domasca Bella,

by Domasca Dan. O/B-Frank D. Di Giulio, Jr. (ON); T-Robert P.

Tiller. C$24,000.

Margins: 2 3/4, 3/4, HF. Odds: 2.65, 27.80, 10.70.

Also Ran: Copperplate, Bye Bye Bernie, Rexton, Excaper, Calgary Cat, Summation Time, Glenville Gardens, Paso Doble. Scratched: Bear No Joke. 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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