King's review: Moonshine Mullin proves he's the real deal

Moonshine Mullin pulls off another stunner

Roughly six weeks after he won the Grade 2 Alysheba at 6-1 odds, Moonshine Mullin pulled off another upset in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Saturday night at Churchill Downs, this time scoring at 10-1 odds.

Must admit, this handicapper underestimated him – believing his half-length win in the Alysheba came largely as a result of runner-up Golden Ticket hanging in the stretch in the latter race. But Moonshine Mullin proved his legitimacy in the Foster, again turning back all challengers and this time drawing off to win by 1 3/4 lengths.

He didn’t get clear on the lead in the Foster, either, as many anticipated. He had company up front, albeit from 80-1 longshot Jaguar Paw, and comfortably was in a pace-pressing situation.

He has now won five in a row in seven starts since trainer Randy Morse claimed him for $40,000 for owner Randy Patterson at Remington Park in November 2014. His earnings since the claim: roughly $644,000.

The only criticism of Moonshine Mullin’s Foster was his winning time, 1:49.66, a slow clocking that earned him a 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

Will Take Charge thoughts

As for runner-up Will Take Charge, he obviously ran much more than he did in the Alysheba when sixth, but he came under an early ride, and the feeling remains that Churchill is not his favorite surface.

He did win the Clark here last year, but his speed figures have been consistently lower at Churchill than on other surfaces. This was reflected in his Foster figure, a 98 Beyer, his second lowest since last summer.

Provided he returns at Saratoga next – where he won the Travers last year – he ought to run faster with the surface switch.

A no-brainer disqualification in the Regret

Sometimes disqualifications are tricky calls for the stewards, but that didn’t appear the case in the Regret Stakes with A Little Bit Sassy. She came out multiple paths under left-handed urging, cutting off a rallying Kiss Moon, and A Little Bit Sassy not surprisingly disqualified and placed fourth behind Kiss Moon.

The revised order of finish resulted in Aurelia’s Belle being elevated to first, followed by Personal Diary, Kiss Moon, and A Little Bit Sassy.

As of this writing early Sunday morning, the stewards had not met to discuss a potential suspension for Luis Saez, who rode A Little Bit Sassy, but given that he continued to whip her left handed and didn’t immediately attempt to straighten her as she drifted out, a short suspension for careless riding likely is in his future.

Horse to watch

Personal Diary
Trainer: Vicky Oliver
Last race: June 14, 5th
Finish: 2nd by 2 1/2
Beyer: 83

Raced in traffic throughout in the Regret Stakes and, though she crossed the wire third, was elevated to second due to a disqualification; she wasn’t the horse impeded, but she didn’t have the smoothest trip and performed well; still eligible for a first-level allowance, where she would figure to outclass the opposition..