King: Light handle on match race

Monday, May 26, review

Although Monday’s opener at Churchill hit a new low for the track, when a field of six $5,000 claimers was scratched down to only two runners, fans in attendance didn’t seem too put out by watching a pair of horses run in an unscheduled match race, even applauding the finish.

Horseplayers, both ontrack and off, didn’t bet much, as one would expect. Among straight wagers, only win wagering was allowed, and just $17,725 was bet in that pool. Among multirace wagers, betting in the opening daily double totaled just $8,123, the first pick three handled $8,652, and the opening pick four drew $34,974 in wagers – perhaps because horseplayers saw that as the only bet that could return a decent payoff.

The race wasn’t any more exciting than a poorly matched morning workout in company. It was competitive for about a quarter-mile, but a half-mile into the seven-furlong race, it was clear that Theodore’s Cash was moving much easier than runner-up Stereo in Motion, who was already under a drive.

Theodore’s Cash then drew away to a 2 1/2-length lead at the eighth pole and seemed to idle over the final furlong under hand urging from jockey Joe Johnson, who won his 999th career race.

The winner received just a 43 Beyer Speed Figure for racing seven furlongs in 1:26.12 over a track that played very fast.

Disqualification in the second

Tiz Sardonic Joe ran best of the six runners in the second, crossing the wire a half-length in front, but was disqualified for veering badly in late stretch into the path of Key to Power, who had crossed the wire third, a length behind.

This resulted in Big John B, who was largely unaffected by the incident, getting “kissed up” by the stewards to first. Key to Power was elevated to second, and Tiz Sardonic Joe was demoted to third.

Tiz Sardonic Joe clearly failed to keep a straight path, but to these eyes, the incident didn’t seem to alter the finish.

Southern Honey wins Winning Colors

The 3-year-old filly Southern Honey won the Grade 3 Winning Colors in fast time, running six furlongs in 1:08.67, and notched her first starts victory. She earned a 97 Beyer.

As well as she performed, the two race favorites, Apropos and Anahauc, ran terribly. The former was a non-threatening fifth after getting bumped early, and the latter ran last of nine, also after some early trouble.

Horse to watch

Bocelli
Trainer: Stephen Lyster
Last race: May 26, 9th
Finish: 5th by 3
Beyer: 63
Normally a front-runner, this horse lost all chance at the start of a five-furlong turf dash for maidens by breaking last. Rather than getting discouraged, this horse rallied from the rear half of the pack to be fifth, falling just a nose short of the fourth-place horse; capable of better with a clean break.