Highway Robber goes last to first in Kentucky Turf Cup Preview
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Highway Robber overcame a tough trip to win the Kentucky Turf Cup Preview on Sunday at Ellis Park for the second straight year.
Last of eight for much of the 1 1/4-mile grass race, Highway Robber was steadied and lost momentum at the quarter-pole as jockey Cristian Torres tried to sneak up the fence, found himself stuck behind a wall of horses when back on stride in upper stretch, split horses past the eighth pole, took a sound bump from outside-closing Ole Crazy Bone in the final 60 yards, and still managed to win by a head.
Ole Crazy Bone, who also came from the back of the field, raced side by side with Highway Robber at the quarter pole, but got a clean outside run as the favorite overcame adversity. Defeated, Ole Crazy Bone still ran a big race in his first start since trainer Mike Maker and the Flying P Stable claimed him for $100,000.
Highway Robber, heavily bet in the last wagering cycles, paid a mere $3.68 while winning for the first time in four starts this year. Owners Susan and Jim Hill sent Highway Robber to Dubai, putting him in the care of trainer Charlie Hills, to start March 1 in the City of Gold at Meydan Racecourse, but after a subpar showing, Highway Robber returned home to trainer Brian Lynch. He finished a close third over nine furlongs, short of his best trip, in the Grade 1 Turf Classic and was scratched from the Grade 1 Manhattan at Saratoga after shipping to New York and getting his foot over the stall webbing, suffering a minor injury. Highway Robber made a midstretch lead, but settled for second June 14 in the Chorleywood at Churchill Downs, but is back on track now – just in time for the $2.5 million Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs, in which he finished second a year ago.
Sugoi, another Maker-trained horse, went straight to the lead and went a half-mile in a solid 47.81, pushed along at the five-furlong marker by Dashman, one of three runners trained by Lynch. The third, Anglophile, made a wide bid past the half-mile pole and surged to the lead at the head of the stretch before being collared late while holding third by one length over Sugoi.
Highway Robber was timed in 1:58.60 over a firm, fast-playing course. Bred in Kentucky by Foxpointe Thoroughbreds, Highway Robber is by Hard Spun out of Yabba, by Lemon Drop Kid. The Hills bought him at a 2-year-old auction for just $30,000, and Highway Robber now has banked more than $1.4 million. And if he moves forward at Kentucky Downs – the whole idea behind this prep -- that bankroll will swell considerably.
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