Rushaway & Lane’s End
Notes while watching the Rushaway and Lane’s End Stakes on ESPN:
Oh, that’s bad. Commentator Randy Moss just called Proud Accolade “The Shamardal of the Rushaway.” Maybe badly beaten favorite Proud Accolade didn’t like Turfway’s muddy track. Shamardal doesn’t have such a convenient excuse — Sheikh Mohammed’s Great Derby Hope was beaten by 46 lengths in the UAE Derby earlier today.
Rushaway winner Cat Shaker pays 79.80 to win. He’s not a Triple Crown nominee — yet. The word from his euphoric owner is that he’ll put up the $6,000 late nomination fee now.
Gary Stevens says he’ll be riding Spanish Chestnut a little differently in the Lane’s End than he did in the Santa Catalina — “I’ll do more of a Winning Colors ride,” he says, elaborating that he plans to make a move earlier in this race than he did in the colt’s last race. Interesting to see how that works out.
Very even odds. Only Diamond Isle is out there, at 17-1.
Obligatory David Cassidy mention (he’s the owner of Mayan King, who’s won two starts at Aqueduct this winter). Horseracing really needs to bring in some more current celebrities. Let’s get J. Lo. a racehorse.
Spanish Chestnut is at the front, as expected, followed by Flower Alley. Magna Graduate moves up. Texcess not too far behind. Wild Desert trails the field. Into the stretch, big moves: Flower Alley comes up to win and Wild Desert shows up to finish second. Wow. Spanish Chestnut was empty in the final furlongs, which doesn’t surprise. He ran just as he has in his last four starts. Leaps to first at the start, tries to hang on to the lead all through, ends up vulnerable to stalkers and closers. He moved too early. A shame.
Trainer Todd Pletcher says Flower Alley might go to the Arkansas Derby or the Lexington Stakes next. I missed what Jeanine Edwards was just saying — someone is out of the Bluegrass. Spanish Chestnut, perhaps? Or Andromeda’s Hero — where was Andromeda’s Hero? I think the Nick Zito Five is now the Nick Zito Four.
