Breeders' Cup Sprint may be next for Atta Boy Roy

Atta Boy Roy won what might have been his final prep for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint in hand on Saturday night, when he cruised by 5 1/2 lengths in the $200,000 Remington Park Sprint Cup.

The six-furlong race shared a card with the $150,000 Governor’s Cup won by Shadowbdancing.

Atta Boy Roy ($2.60) did not break well but quickly recovered and easily moved to the lead while pushed through an opening quarter of 21.61 seconds by Wando Redd and Greeley’s Conquest. Atta Boy Roy maintained the advantage through a half-mile in 44.03 seconds, then drew clear to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:09.29.

Calvin Borel was aboard for trainer Valorie Lund, who said there’s a good possibility the Remington Sprint was Atta Boy Roy’s final prep for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs on Nov. 6.
“It’s the perfect stepping-stone to where we want to go, to the Breeders’ Cup,” Lund said shortly after the Remington Sprint. “Calvin said he did it well within himself; there was lots in the tank.”

Atta Boy Roy won the Grade 2 Churchill Downs in May, and in his most recent start was second to division heavy Majesticperfection in the $125,000 Iowa Sprint in June. Following that race, Majesticperfection won the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga.

Atta Boy Roy, a 5-year-old Washington-bred by Tribunal, races for Roy Schaefer. He has now won 10 of 21 starts and $479,363.
Wando Redd finished second in the Remington Sprint, a half-length in front of third-place finisher Greeley’s Conquest.

Shadowbdancing wins stretch battle in Governor’s Cup

Shadowbdancing held off a relentless Kick On through the stretch to win the Governor’s Cup by a half-length. It was another 3 1/4 lengths back in third to Going Ballistic.

Shadowbdancing ($6) took the initiative from the start of the mile and a sixteenth race, and led the field through six furlongs in 1:12.79. Kick On moved up to challenge approaching the quarter pole, and Shadowbdancing fought him off to cover the distsance in 1:43.78.

Eddie Razo rode Shadowbdancing for RNB Racing and trainer Terrel Gore.

Gore said Shadowbdancing is a candidate for the Grade 2 Hawthorne Gold Cup at Hawthorne on Oct. 2. Earlier this year, the horse won the Grade 2 Cornhusker at Prairie Meadows.