Edge of Reality enjoys return to statebred ranks in Robellino
Edge of Reality, facing Pennsylvania-breds for the first time since winning the Alphabet Soup Handicap in September 2014, overshadowed top two favorites Granny’s Kitten and Saratoga Jack to score at 5-1 in Saturday’s $100,000 Robellino Stakes at Penn National.
Winless in five starts since taking an overnight stakes on the main track at Parx Racing in June 2015, the 6-year-old Edge of Reality ($13.60), ridden for the first time by Jeremy Rose, was sixth, 6 1/2 lengths behind pacesetter Saratoga Jack, the 5-2 second choice.
Granny’s Kitten, the 8-5 favorite, rallied under Frankie Pennington to take a brief lead in midstretch and was a half-length in front at the eighth pole. But Edge of Reality, who had moved up to second with a furlong remaining, surged and scored by a length over Penn National-based 20-1 outsider Raging Market. Granny’s Kitten was third, a length behind the runner-up. Saratoga Jack, a 3-year-old facing older horses for the first time, faded to eighth.
It was the first stakes win for Rose since August 2013 at Delaware Park.
A son of Lawyer Ron trained by Graham Motion for The Elkstone Group, Edge of Reality has now won five stakes among his eight lifetime wins in 30 starts, including the Grade 3 Smarty Jones. He was fourth as the 6-5 favorite in an off-the-turf edition of the Robellino in 2014. His earnings are now $640,620.
Due to a malfunction of the timer, the race was hand-timed, with 1 1/16 miles on firm turf clocked in 1:42.06, nearly five seconds slower than the original time posted on the tote board.