Red Mile: Perfect Sting would not be denied in International Stallion Stakes

In mid-stretch of his International Stallion Stakes race on Saturday afternoon at The Red Mile, it looked like 2-year-old pacing colt Perfect Sting's undefeated start to his career was going to come to an end as he was a few lengths behind leader Summa Cum Laude, but he closed with vigor and chased down his rival to win narrowly in 1:49 4/5 to improve to eight-for-eight.

After brushing to the lead last week in his Bluegrass win, driver David Miller raced Perfect Sting from off-the-pace in this Saturday's $99,700 contest, and it looked like that might be a good tactic as Literl Lad Hanover (Matt Kakaley), Billy Clyde (Mark MacDonald), and Summa Cum Laude (Yannick Gingras) played leapfrog on the lead through opening-half stations of 27 2/5 and 55. Summa Cum Laude forged his way past fellow Ron Burke pupil Literl Lad Hanover after the half, and then he picked up the tempo to 1:22 4/5 at three-quarters to dispatch a first-up bid from Bayfield Beach (Dexter Dunn). Perfect Sting had been riding that one's cover from second-over, but when Summa Cum Laude accelerated away late on the far turn and into the lane, Perfect Sting was left with a good deal of work to do after coming out three-wide.

It appeared like Summa Cum Laude had a good three length jump on Perfect Sting with an eighth to go, but Miller chased his charge all the way to the wire, and Perfect Sting showed a real desire to want to win as he rallied past Summa Cum Laude right before the wire to score by a head in 1:49 4/5. Caviart Lotus (Tim Tetrick) rallied from seventh to third in the final quarter.

"He makes me work. We opened him up on his blinds and added pull-out earplugs on him (this week). I think the pull-out ear plugs worked, but the open part to his blinds, he was kind of all over the track just a bit, so probably go back to his old bridle," said Miller. "He wanted it today. I was real proud of him. He wanted to put his head in front.

"When I got him off Dexter's back and got him going, it looked like Yannick had about four on me, and I know how good that horse raced last week. I wasn't for sure I was going to track him down."

Joe Holloway trains Perfect Sting, a homebred for Brittany Farms LLC. and Val D'Or Farms. Perfect Sting, a colt by Always B Miki, has earned $304,300, his dam is the world champion Bettor's Delight mare Shebestingin (1:47, $759,522), and he is her top-earning offspring. Perfect Sting returned $3.40 to win as the favorite.

Miller drove both the sire and the dam, giving him a perspective on what attributes Perfect Sting has gotten from each.

"At this stage of the game, I'd say he's more like his dad. He's got that laid-back attitude, doesn't seem to get tired, and has that willingness to win," he remarked. "I know the mare, she was ultra-tough too, maybe that shows up a little bit late in the stretch."

Gingras didn't go home empty-handed, though, as he won the last $99,700 ISS battle with Southwind Gendry in 1:50. Always A Miki (Dunn) secured the front before the 27 2/5 opening quarter in that dash, but he would be overtaken by Commanding Officer (Joe Bongiorno), who went on to a half in 54 4/5 and a three-quarters in 1:22 3/5. Southwind Gendry, who bided his time on the pylons in fifth in the opening half, was first-over and a joint second at three-quarters, and he would forge his way by Commanding Officer in the lane. There were closers coming after Southwind Gendry once he took charge, but he held sway, winning by a neck over Southwind Petyr (Brian Sears), who had followed him from second-over. Always A Miki checked in third.

"You can do whatever you want with the horse. You can race on the front, you can race from behind, it doesn't really matter. He's perfect to drive," stated Gingras. "I was hoping to get a cover trip. It's tough coming first-up a long, long way, but he's a game horse, when they came to him, that's when he goes.

"Nobody had really talked about him, and the first time I baby-raced him, I told Ronnie (Burke) 'that's the one I like the best.' He was a little bit behind the others when it was time to qualify, but the first time I sat behind him I loved him. He's just a total pro."

Burke trains Southwind Gendry, a gelding from the first crop of Always B Miki, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Phil Collura, Knox Services Inc., and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby. Southwind Gendry, who was bred by Southwind Farms LLC. and went for $30,000 at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, has a record of 8-0-0 from ten tries, and he has now pocketed $409,269. Southwind Gendry is the sixth foal out of the Cam's Card Shark mare Gambler's Passion (1:50 4/5, $123,100), a three-quarter sister to Geez Joe (Roll With Joe, 1:47 4/5, $324,932). Sent off at 1-5, Southwind Gendry paid $2.60 to win.

Back in the first $99,700 ISS test, Highlandbeachsbest (Tetrick) paced past Pirate Hanover (Andrew McCarthy) for control after the 28 1/5 opening quarter. Tetrick rated Highlandbeachsbest through a 56 1/5 half and a 1:24 three-quarters after that, then sprinted home in 26 2/5 to defeat Pirate Hanover by a length and three-quarters in 1:50 2/5. Emblaze Hanover (Bongiorno) checked in third.

Highlandbeachsbest, a colt by Somebeachsomewhere, is trained by Nancy Takter for co-owner/breeder Highland Thoroughbred Farm and co-owner Marty Fine. Highlandbeachsbest now has three wins from ten starts, and he has put away $124,002. He's out of the Rocknroll Hanover mare Rockn Highland, making him a full brother to three six-figure earners, topped by Highlandbeachycove ($239,970). Highlandbeachsbest returned $3.40 to win as the chalk.