Hemp Hemp Hurray cruises in Animal Kingdom Stakes
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
Hemp Hemp Hurray was the easiest of winners when helping to close out four months of winter racing at Turfway Park with an 11 3/4-length romp Saturday night over five other 3-year-olds in the $50,000 Animal Kingdom.
Ridden by Julio Garcia, Hemp Hemp Hurray prompted the early pace in the 6 1/2-furlong Polytrack race before cruising to the lead and never being asked for his best. The Artie Schiller colt returned $3.40 after finishing in 1:17.03.
“Hopefully, this sets us up for some bigger things down the road,” said Wesley Ward, who trains the Ontario-bred colt for Ken and Sarah Ramsey.
Angaston was second, 1 1/2 lengths before O’Malley’s March. An original field of nine was reduced by three early scratches.
The $2 exacta (8-5) paid $20.40, the $1 trifecta (8-5-6) returned $70.10, and the 10-cent superfecta (8-5-6-7) was worth $16.95.
With the close of Turfway, racing on the Kentucky circuit now shifts to Keeneland in Lexington, where a 16-day spring meet gets under way Friday following a rare stretch of five dark days.
