Kangaroo Court, Bus Buzz rivalry on hold
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ARCADIA, Calif. – Kangaroo Court and Bus Buzz have finished first and second in two meetings at Santa Anita this year, including Saturday’s $151,000 Echo Eddie Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old sprinters.
Their budding rivalry is on pause, at least briefly.
Kangaroo Court, who beat Bus Buzz in an allowance race March 4, is under consideration for the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile, a $500,000 race for 3-year-olds on May 6 at Churchill Downs.
Trainer Steve Knapp said he has not decided on a race for Bus Buzz, but said an allowance race is a possibility.
“I’m going to give him a little time after this one,” Knapp said.
If the pair do appear in the same race, another meeting could be worth the wait. Kangaroo Court edged Bus Buzz by a head in the Echo Eddie Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs.
“It was a match race,” said Tim Yakteen, who trains Kangaroo Court. “The horse of Steve’s ran huge.”
The stretch run was the subject of an inquiry by track stewards, who reviewed whether bumping incidents between the two in early stretch and closer to the wire affected the order of finish.
Kangaroo Court appeared to drift to the inside in early stretch, while Bus Buzz moved out in the final sixteenth.
“I still think the contact at the top of the lane beat me,” Knapp said. “Down the lane, we drifted out.”
Kangaroo Court has won his last three starts in his four-race career, including a maiden race by 14 1/4 lengths at Del Mar last August.
Yakteen may have as many as five 3-year-olds starting May 6 at Churchill Downs.
Practical Move, winner of Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, and Reincarnate, third in the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on April 1, are candidates for the Kentucky Derby, with Kangaroo Court and Fort Bragg under consideration for the Pat Day Mile and Johannes on schedule for the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile.
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