Gierkink's review: Excaper, Something Extra put on show in Connaught Cup

Connaught Cup thriller

Something Extra won the Grade 2 Connaught Cup in 2012-13, but the diminutive 6-year-old had to settle for second to Excaper, who finally notched his first stakes in the seven-furlong turf sprint.

Excaper ($13.10) tracked Something Extra through sizzling fractions. He joined Something Extra on the lead early in the stretch and maintained a slim advantage the rest of the way en route to a half-length tally over the extra-firm ground.

“We did a myectomy on his throat this winter, and it seems to have really helped him finish,” said trainer Ian Black, who sent out Excaper to finish second at 33-1 in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Excaper’s final time of 1:19.53 was just 0.15 seconds off Soaring Free’s course record.

Speed effective on the Poly

Frontrunners and stalkers won all eight Polytrack events. Two of them benefited from a slow pace, Go Wes Go and Tap for Ami.

First-timer starter Doonundurrus ran an admirable race in the nightcap, a 1 1/16-mile route for $25,000 maidens. After stalking a lively pace, he hit the front in late stretch before holding off another longshot, Melmich, to win by a half-length. Jesse Campbell rode the son of Sligo Bay for trainer Steve Attard.

Horse to Watch

Laugh Track
Trainer: Mark Casse
Last race: May 31, 8th
Finish: 3rd by 3/4

The 2013 Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up was the only horse to make up significant ground in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup Stakes. He came from fifth and altered course to the outside in mid-stretch before missing second by a head in the seven-furlong event, which nearly was run in course-record time over firm ground.