Kalik notches third consecutive victory with Pennine Ridge
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ELMONT, N.Y. - Kalik took full advantage of being the only member of the field with a modicum of early speed to record a front-running, one-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Pennine Ridge Stakes at Belmont Park.
Far Bridge, who got shuffled back to last approaching the quarter pole, rallied to get second by a head over favored Silver Knott.
It was two lengths back to Lachaise in fourth. He was followed by Freedom Trail, Congruent and Belouni. Sharar scratched.
It was the third straight win for Kalik, a son of Collected trained by Chad Brown for Robert LaPenta, Madaket Stables and e Five Racing Thoroughbreds.
Kalik was coming off a first-level allowance win in which he dictated terms from start to finish. On paper, it looked like it could play out that way in the Pennine Ridge, and it did.
Under Irad Ortiz Jr., Kalik was able to establish a clear advantage through an opening quarter in 24.69 seconds, a half-mile in 49.17 and six furlongs in 1:13.01. Freedom Trail, under Kendrick Carmouche, stalked Kalik and tried to make a run at him, but Kalik opened up again turning for home.
Kalik built a 2 1/2-length advantage at the eighth pole and had more than enough to hold Far Bridge at bay to the wire.
Kalik covered the 1 1/8 miles over firm turf in 1:47.85 and returned $7.90 as the third choice.
“We thought on paper that if he could get out there and control the race that he would at least have a final say near the finish line and that’s the way it worked out,” said Brown, who won this race for the third time.
Brown said Kalik really blossomed physically over the winter.
“He was really like an immature teenager last year, he was training good but he was always like a stick-figure kind of horse,” Brown said. “Now he’s filled out and turned into a real man.”
Kalik was one of four winners on the card for Ortiz, who won four races Friday between Belmont and Penn National, including the $400,000 Penn Mile.
Far Bridge and Silver Knott both were compromised by the slow pace in the Pennine Ridge. Far Bridge, under Joel Rosario, got to leaning in around the far turn and was last turning for home, but came with a run to get second.
“He said he got in a spot on the turn where he drifted in a little and couldn’t maintain his spot,” Todd Pletcher, trainer of Far Bridge, said. “Once he straightened away for home, he took off and had to weave his way through. He was finishing well, he just ran out of time.”
Richard Mullen, jockey of Silver Knott, said once he found some running room in upper he stretch he thought he had a chance to catch Kalik, “but in fairness to him the winner kicked again,” he said.
The top three finishers could be candidates for the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby here on July 8.
Redistricting impresses on debut
Kalik may not have been the most impressive 3-year-old turf horse Brown ran Saturday at Belmont.
Earlier on the card, Redistricting ran like a horse who will soon be joining the 3-year-old turf stakes ranks when he rolled home to a 4 3/4-length maiden score at first asking.
Sitting five lengths off the pace after a half-mile run in 47.83 seconds, Redistricting unleased a powerful turn of foot while four-wide under Ortiz to win going away. He ran 1 1/16 miles in a solid 1:40.79.
“He’s always trained like a nice horse, unfortunately he had a few issues at 2 and we had to geld the horse,” Brown said. “He had a few behavioral problems and we made the tough decision to geld him. It did really help the horse get focused and get back on track and stay sound. You can see it was worth the wait, he ran fabulous.”
Making the effort more impressive, Redistricting sprung his left front shoe at some point in the race.
Redistricting is a son of Kingman owned by Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables.
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