Krieger gives Coa fifth win on card

MIAMI - Eibar Coa completed a memorable afternoon when he guided Krieger to a gate-to-wire, one-length decision over Stokosky in the $100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap for his fifth winner and third stakes victory of the day.

Coa also won the $100,000 My Charmer Handicap aboard Wander Mom and the $100,000 Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap on Built Up.

As was the case in each of Coa's other stakes wins, Krieger sprinted right to the lead, set an uncontested pace, then withstood a final surge. Stokosky saved ground throughout and was gaining gradually on the winner at the end. Serial Bride finished third.

Krieger ($6.80), a 4-year-old son of Lord at War, is trained by Joe Orseno for the Stronach Stable Inc. He covered nine furlongs in 1:47.02 over a firm turf course. He also completed an all stakes pick four with Wander Mom, Built Up, and Chispiski which paid $2,623.70 for a $1 ticket. The winning combination was 5-1-6-3.

"The pace of a mile and one-eighth race may actually work out better for him than a mile," said Orseno. "He's got plenty of speed but you don't have to run as hard as you do going a mile."

Built Up wire to wire in Kenny Noe

Built Up ($11.20) finally turned the tables on arch-rival Tour of the Cat when he led throughout to post a one-length victory over his nemesis in the Kenny Noe.

Built Up was beaten a nose and a half-length by Tour of the Cat when he finished second in both the Exclusive Praline and Groomstick handicaps here this summer. But with little speed in the lineup, Coa sent Built Up right to the front from his inside post, angled well off what appeared to be a deep rail, then easily withstood Tour of the Cat despite drifting out near the middle of the racetrack through the stretch.

Tour of the Cat, the 121-pound highweight and 6-5 favorite, finished a length in front of the late-striding Sea of Tranquility.

Built Up ran seven furlongs in 1:23.30.

"When they scratched the 2 horse [Juggernaut], that left my horse the only speed in the race," said trainer Enrique Alonso. "He was getting seven pounds from Tour of the Cat and should have beaten him a couple of other times already."

Longshot exacta in Chaposa Springs

Chispiski ($20) led throughout, then was fully extended to withstand fellow longshot Abundantly Blessed for a neck victory in the $100,000 Chaposa Springs Handicap.

Trainer Ron Spatz and owner William Sorren had been on the fence earlier this week whether to even run Chispiski in the seven-furlong Chaposa Springs, voicing concerns about whether their filly could get the distance, especially if she got hooked early by Interest Only. But when Coa rated Interest Only off the lead, Chispiski was able to set an uncontested pace, then was all-out to withstand the final surge of the 22-1 Abundantly Blessed.

Away rallied mildly to finish third, while never a threat to the top pair. Platinum Tiara, the 2-1 favorite, was never a factor and finished a well-beaten sixth.

Chispiski, who has won eight of her last 11 starts while never worse than second during that span, went seven furlongs in 1:25.14.

"I had some doubts about her going seven-eighths," said Spatz. "But she runs hard every time she races and we probably had a little home-court advantage over some of these other fillies."