Kings River Knight uses early speed to take Bertrando Stakes
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CYPRESS, Calif. — A bold move in the opening furlong left Kings River Knight on the lead in Saturday’s $100,500 Bertrando Stakes for statebred milers at Los Alamitos and well on his way to his second consecutive stakes win.
Kings River Knight repelled a challenge in early stretch from 3-1 Lovesick Blues to win by two lengths under jockey Juan Hernandez, who won his 100th race of the year in the Bertrando.
“The horse was really good,” Hernandez said. “He wanted to take the lead. I let him go. He was comfortable on the lead.”
Kings River Knight set early fractions of 23.50 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.67 for a half-mile, leading by as much as a length.
Kings River Knight ($5.20) was timed in 1:35.31 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 96.
Lovesick Blues rallied wide to pose a brief threat, but was unable to run with Kings River Knight through the lengthy stretch.
“He made a good move,” said Ramon Vazquez, who rode Lovesick Blues. “The other horse made the lead easy.
“I had to use my horse a little bit on the turn. He finished a good second.”
Kings River Knight had a one-length lead with a quarter-mile remaining, which had widened to two lengths in the stretch.
“I asked him to pick it up,” Hernandez said. “He surprised me. As soon as I asked him, he picked it up well.”
Coalinga Road, the winner of the Unusual Heat Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles for statebreds at Santa Anita in January, finished third at 8-1, followed by Positivity, Desmond Doss and None Above the Law in the field of six.
Kings River Knight, a 5-year-old gelding by Acclamation, has won 5 of 10 starts and earned $296,260.
Trained by John Sadler for the partnership of the family of late Bud Johnston, Integrity Thoroughbred Racing and Kenneth Tevelde, Kings River Knight won the Crystal Water Stakes for statebred turf milers at Santa Anita on May 28 for his first stakes win.
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