Private Creed edges away late from favored Sharp Aza Tack in Kentucky Downs Juvenile

Private Creed wore down heavily favored Sharp Aza Tack in deep stretch to pull a mild upset Thursday in the $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint.

With Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen on hand at the turf-only track in south-central Kentucky, Private Creed and jockey Joel Rosario made steady gains on Sharp Aza Tack through the long stretch before prevailing by three-quarters of a length, finishing 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:18.19. He paid $7.58 as second choice in a field of just five 2-year-olds.

The defeat was the first in three career starts for Sharp Aza Tack, the 1-4 favorite under Irad Ortiz Jr., the superstar jockey who was making his first appearance of a seven-day meet that runs through Sept. 14. The Sharp Azteca colt allowed 52-1 shot Revere Note to set the pace before things got serious, and although he appeared in command in midstretch while being put to a drive by Ortiz down the middle of the course, it was a determined inside run from Private Creed that got the money.

“My horse was comfortable, happy where he was,” Rosario said of a clean stalking trip for Private Creed. “For a second, I didn’t know, as it took him a little time to get going. He just found another gear.”

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match and FREE Formulator PPs! Join DRF Bets.

Accident was another 3 1/2 lengths back in third when followed home by Bourbon Therapy and Revere Note.

It was the second stakes win of the Kentucky Downs meet for Rosario, following Vergara in the Dueling Grounds Oaks on Monday. Rosario set single-meet records last September at Kentucky Downs for wins (17) and mount earnings ($2.95 million).

Private Creed, a Jimmy Creed colt owned by Mike McCarty, was coming off a third-place finish in his second start, the Aug. 19 Skidmore over the Saratoga turf, an effort that followed a winning debut over the Ellis Park turf in late July.

For Asmussen, the all-time leading trainer in North American history with nearly 9,900 wins, it was the seventh straight day he won at least one race, and his third in a row with a stakes win, following Gigante on Tuesday and Boldor on Wednesday, both at Colonial Downs.

The Juvenile Sprint scratched down to such a small field following three early defections, including Half a Chance, who is entered back in the filly-only Untapable Stakes on Sunday.

* A pair of novelty races for 2-year-olds were among the preceding races Thursday, both of them $250,000 allowances restricted to horses that were purchased (or did not attain their reserve prices) at the Keeneland yearling sales last September.

Dunedin ($47.04), with Joe Rocco Jr. riding for Kelsey Danner, won the colt and gelding division (race 4) when getting 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.94, after which Showgirl Lynne B ($17.16) remained unbeaten in three starts for trainer Bob Hess Jr. when capturing the filly division (race 6) under Florent Geroux, going the same distance in 1:18.66.

* After going dark Friday, Kentucky Downs resumes live action Saturday with its biggest day in track history. First post for a 12-race card is 11:30 a.m. Central.