Kinsale King upsets Palos Verdes

ARCADIA, Calif. - The vastly improved Kinsale King won his third straight race since moving to trainer Carl O'Callaghan and punched his ticket to the Dubai Golden Shaheen by upsetting Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Dancing in Silks in the for sprinters Saturday at Santa Anita.

Kinsale King ($20.20) was lapped on pacesetter Eaton's Gift through fractions of 22.25 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.80 for a half-mile, took the lead entering the stretch, then bravely turned back bids from Ventana and Dancing in Silks to prevail. He won by a half-length over Ventana, with Dancing in Silks, the 4-5 favorite, another 1 1/4 lengths back in third.

Kinsale King, ridden by Martin Garcia, completed six furlongs on Pro-Ride in 1:08.81.

"I told Martin to take his time, be patient," said O'Callaghan, who trains Kinsale King for the Super Horse stable of Dr. Patrick Sheehy.

Preceding the race, the competition and wet weather left O'Callaghan anxious.

"I didn't sleep for two days and two nights," he said.

A gelding, Kinsale King, 5, was making only the seventh start of his career. He has now won four times. Last month, he sped to a gate-to-wire victory in the Underwood Stakes at Hollywood Park.

O'Callaghan said he had been to Dubai twice while working as an exercise rider for trainer Todd Pletcher. This will be his first trip as a head trainer. Kinsale King will not have another start before going to Dubai.

Dancing in Silks also is scheduled to go to Dubai for the Golden Shaheen. In the immediate aftermath of the Palos Verdes, trainer Carla Gaines said she was not sure if Dancing in Silks would race again this meet before leaving for the Middle East.

"I think he got a little tired," Gaines said. "He ran a respectable race. He just got a little tired."

Dancing in Silks carried top weight of 123 pounds. He spotted seven pounds to Kinsale King, and 10 to Ventana.