Fast Boat outfinishes Sombeyay to take Twin Spires Turf Sprint
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Fast Boat rallied fastest of all down the middle of the turf course to win the Grade 2, $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint on Friday at Churchill Downs.
Fast Boat ($10.40), a 6-year-old City Zip gelding trained by Joe Sharp for owner Brad Grady, has now scored back-to-back stakes victories. He was coming off a win in the Pulse Power Turf Sprint in January at Sam Houston, his first career stakes victory after knocking on the door previously.
He recorded his first career stakes placing when finishing third in the Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Sprint Stakes in August 2019 at Ellis Park. Last year, he was second in the Turf Sprint at Sam Houston, and third in the Colonel Power at Fair Grounds. He also was beaten less than three-quarters of a length when fourth in the Grade 2 Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland.
Although Fast Boat had not raced since his Turf Sprint win in January, he had trained strongly this month for his return after a freshening away from the racetrack. Sharp said the gelding had a vacation, with light exercise, at the farm in Simpsonville, Ky., that he owns with his wife, retired jockey and event rider Rosie Napravnik. Fast Boat returned to the worktab on April 5 in Kentucky and came into this race off consecutive bullet workouts, indicating his readiness.
Fiya was sent away as the favorite in the Twin Spires, and he and Just Might leapt out to do battle through the early stages of the race. Just Might, on the outside, had his nose in front through a wicked opening quarter in 22.15 seconds. Classy John and Ambassador Luna tracked as a matched pair behind the leaders. Meanwhile, Fast Boat, with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons, was well back in ninth as the field sorted itself out through.
Turning for home, Just Might began to grind away from a stubborn Fiya, but both quickly found themselves set upon by the pack. Ambassador Luna tipped out for first run at them and briefly made the lead, but simultaneously Sombeyay and Fast Boat, moving in tandem down the middle of the course, collared him. It was Fast Boat, widest of the group, who edged clear in the final yards for a half-length victory.
"He's the kind that knows where the wire is," Sharp said.
Sombeyay was second by a length over Classy John. They were followed, in order, by defending winner Diamond Oops, Carotari, Johnny Unleashed, Smart Remark, Just Might, Guildsman, Ambassador Luna, and Fiya.
Fiya crossed the finish line under his own power, but later received a van ride back to the barn. Owner Robert Masiello said that the gelding was sound and cooled out well.
"Think most likely it’s a case of heat exhaustion," Masiello said. "He tends to be a sweaty horse, but wasn’t sweating at all in the paddock or after the race."
Fast Boat finished the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.29 on a drying-out course that was officially rated good after rain on Thursday, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 98. Temperatures in the 70s as well as a stiff wind served to dry it out quickly, and no precipitation is expected before Saturday's card, which features three more graded turf stakes.