Benefitting from a cut back in trip and a tactfully perfect ride from soon-to-be Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, Benner Island scored her first graded victory in the Eight Belles. Bet down to 3-1 favoritism from a 10-1 morning-line, the bay was away well from her rail and draw and was sent to the front by Castellano, who was attempting to take advantage of the speed-favoring surface. Briefly dueling with longshot Lovely Bernadette (Wilburn), Benner Island gained a neck advantage over that rival and ticked off early fractions of :22.54 and :45.78 with Grade I winner Union Strike and double-digit longshot What What What (Archarcharch) hot on their heels. Showing the way into the lane, Benner Island began to edge clear as several of her pursuers called it quits, but Union Strike was not done yet. Weaving between rivals in search of running room, the California invader came charging after the leader three wide, but came up just an inch short of Benner Island at the wire. Laney mirrored Union Strike's late run to complete the trifecta.
“She was taking Javier [Castellano] up the backside and when I saw the :22 and change I didn't mind that, but when I saw :45 and change I didn't like that,” winning conditioner Brad Cox said. “But, honestly, turning for home I thought she would back up on the fractions. Knowing the filly, I knew she would fight and was fit.”
As for her next start, Cox said, “The [GI] Acorn [S. June 10 at Belmont] would be ideal for her next, but we'll let her tell us. Hopefully Javier can stay on her.”
A debut winner at Indiana Downs in August, Benner Island followed suit with a runner-up effort behind and impressive performance from “TDN Rising Star” Diadura (Hard Spun) in the Arlington Washington Lassie S. six weeks later. Failing to fire when seventh in the GI Darley Alciabiades S. in October, the $200,000 KEESEP buy captured a one-mile allowance over this strip Nov. 26 and was a non-factor sixth next out in Oaklawn's Martha Washington S. Feb. 11. Completing the exacta behind “TDN Rising Star” It Tiz Well (Arch) in that venue's GIII Honeybee S. Mar. 11, the sophomore could only manage a one-paced fifth last time in Hot Springs for the 1 1/16-mile GIII Fantasy S. Apr. 14.
Benner Island is owner by the Arkansas-based John Ed Anthony's Shortleaf Stable. Anthony is chairman of his family's timber company Anthony Timberlands and was inducted into his homestate's Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. Anthony, who previously raced as Loblolly Stable, campaigned the likes of 1980 champion 3-year-old Temperence won back-to-back editions of the GI Preakness S. with homebred, taking the 1992 edition with Pine Bluff and the 1993 renewal with champion Prairie Bayou. He also campaigned 1980 champion 3-year-old Temperence Hill.
Pedigree Notes:
The winner's dam Spacy Tracy, winner of the 2010 GII Top Flight H., is responsible for the juvenile colt High North (Midnight Lute), who summoned $230,000 from Shortleaf Stable at last term's Keeneland September sale. A few months after producing High North, Spacy Tracy sold to Longford Farm for $230,000 carrying a full-sibling to Benner Island at the 2015 Keeneland November sale. The resulting foal was a filly, born May 27 of last year, and Spacy Tracy was not bred back following that late foaling. Benner Island hails from the family of champion juvenile filly Eliza; GISW and leading young sire Dialed In; and MGSWs Golden Lad and Broadway's Alibi.
Friday, Churchill Downs
EIGHT BELLES S. PRESENTED BY KENTUCKY TRAILER-GII, $200,000, CD, 5-5, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:24.28, sy.
1–#@BENNER ISLAND, 118, f, 3, by Speightstown
1st Dam: Spacy Tracy (GSW, $249,690), by Awesome Again
2nd Dam: Tracy, by Theatrical (Ire)
3rd Dam: Daring Bidder, by Bold Bidder
($200,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP). O-Shortleaf Stable, Inc.;
B-Mercedes Stables LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Javier
Castellano. $112,840. Lifetime Record: 8-3-2-0, $235,863.
Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”burleson-farms-consigned-by”][bullet ad=”winstar-eligible-youre-a-winner”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″]2–Union Strike, 118, f, 3, Union Rags–Classic Strike, by Smart
Strike. ($170,000 Wlg '14 KEENOV; $130,000 RNA Ylg '15
KEESEP; $375,000 2yo '16 OBSAPR). O-Ruis Racing LLC;
B-Pollock Farms, Brian Kahn, Taylor Brothers Property, et al
(KY); T-Mick Ruis. $36,400.[bullet ad=”mcmahon-and-hill-purchased-as-a-wnlg”][bullet ad=”hidden-brook-sales-graduate”][bullet ad=”taylor-made-tm-for-you”]3–Laney, 118, f, 3, Shackleford–Croon, by Indian Charlie.
($15,000 Wlg '14 KEENOV; $17,000 RNA Ylg '15 KEESEP;
$60,000 2yo '16 OBSAPR). O-Joseph W. Sutton; B-Vincent
Colbert (KY); T-Eddie Kenneally. $18,200.[bullet ad=”paramount-congratulations”][bullet ad=”berkelhammer-shell”]Margins: HD, 1HF, 2 1/4. Odds: 3.40, 4.30, 49.60.
Also Ran: Golden Mischief, Pretty City Dancer, Gris Gris, China Grove, Cajun Delta Dawn, Let It Ride Mom, Florida Fabulous, Ghalia, What What What, Lovely Bernadette, I'mluckysgirl. 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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