Dunph, an 8 1/2-length Penn National romper going a main-track mile Sept. 15, handled the move to a bigger stage with aplomb Sunday to crush his competition in this event restricted to Spendthrift Farm-sired horses. Transferred from Tim Kreiser to Mike Maker and with Three Diamonds Farm added to the ownership line since the unveiling, the striking dark bay stalked from second while always traveling sweetly. Given his cue by Tyler Gaffalione in upper stretch, he quickly spurted away from his competition with impressive ease and ran up the score from there.
“The horse broke really sharp and I got into the spot I wanted,” said pilot Tyler Gaffalione, fresh off winning the riding title at the recently concluded Keeneland meet. “When I turned for home, I still had a ton of horse left. I think he'll just keep getting better as the distances get longer. I think I like it here in Kentucky.”
Maker added, “That was very impressive. He's been doing well over at Trackside and has a very bright future.”
Dunph's yearling half-sister by Medal Count was bought back for $27,000 at last week's Fasig-Tipton October sale. His third dam is Canadian Horse of the Year and champion 2-year-old filly Ruling Angel (Vice Regent).
SPENDTHRIFT JUVENILE STALLION S., (NB) $150,000, Churchill Downs, 10-28, (C), 2yo, 7f, 1:23.20, ft.
1–DUNPH, 120, g, 2, by Temple City
1st Dam: Skymynx, by Sky Mesa
2nd Dam: Goodeve, by Pleasant Colony
3rd Dam: Ruling Angel, by Vice Regent
($20,000 RNA Ylg '17 FTKJUL; $18,000 RNA Ylg '17 FTKTUR;
$27,500 2yo '18 OBSMAR). O-Three Diamonds Farm & Joseph
Besecker; B-Equus Farm (KY); T-Michael J. Maker; J-Tyler
Gaffalione. $89,280. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $105,540.
2–Naughty Joker, 115, f, 2, Into Mischief–Fleeting Humor, by
Distorted Humor. O/B-Kenneth L. & Sarah K. Ramsey (KY);
T-Wesley A. Ward. $28,800.
3–Into the South, 117, f, 2, Into Mischief–Southbound, by
Southern Image. ($35,000 RNA Ylg '17 KEESEP).
O/B-Merriebelle Stable, LLC (KY); T-Ignacio Correas, IV.
$14,400.
Margins: 7 3/4, HD, 3/4. Odds: 4.40, 3.60, 8.40.
Also Ran: Kajawa, Gentle Warrior, Casa Creed, B. B. Dude, Achilles Warrior, Distorted Jimmy. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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