Necker Island and Murrill rally up rail, edge Macho in Bet on Sunshine
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Necker Island got a terrific ride from Mitchell Murrill when rallying up the rail to edge favored Macho in a spill-marred 13th running of the $300,000 Bet On Sunshine under the Churchill Downs lights Saturday evening.
Necker Island broke from post 1 in the six-furlong race and never strayed far from the rail, closing stoutly to prevail by a head. The 4-year-old Hard Spun colt returned $9.40 as third choice in a field of eight older horses after finishing in 1:09.22 over a fast track.
“We’ve been trying to make him into a sprinter, so this was really nice,” said Chris Hartman, who trains Necker Island for The Scherr Boys. “Mitch gave him a great ride.”
“He’s an awesome horse,” said Murrill, who rode two other winners on an 11-race card. “I’m very proud of his effort.”
Sir Alfred James, always near the front, held on grimly to be third, just another neck behind Macho, the 5-2 favorite who had taken command inside the furlong pole before yielding in the final yards.
Midway in the turn, Vertical Threat clipped heels and fell, throwing Adam Beschizza. Rough Entry and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. also fell when unable to avoid them. Neither jockey was seriously injured.
Necker Island was claimed by Hartman for $100,000 in June 2020. He ran ninth in the Kentucky Derby, but otherwise has won three times for his new connections, with this being his first stakes victory, one worth $183,450.
The $2 exacta (1-8) paid $37.60, the $1 trifecta (1-8-7) returned $97.70, and the 10-cent superfecta (1-8-7-3) was worth $21.07.