Simply Super wears down Heldish to take Hickory Tree Stakes

Turns out chasing Gulfport, one of North America’s fastest 2-year-olds, in the Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs was a little tougher on Simply Super than chasing Heldish in the $153,000 Hickory Tree Stakes on Tuesday at Colonial Downs.

After trying to match strides with Gulfport, Simply Super faded to fourth, beaten 19 lengths in the Bashford Manor. But after chasing Heldish for a half-mile in the Hickory Tree, Simply Super pushed past to post a half-length victory in this five-furlong dash for Virgina-bred, Virginia-sired, or Virginia-registered 2-year-olds.

Heldish had won his career debut and lone start with a higher Beyer Speed Figure than Simply Super produced in his two races earlier this year, but Simply Super simply outclassed Heldish, who made a clear lead and wasn’t asked until upper stretch. Heldish couldn’t pull clear from Simply Super, who wore him down and went on to victory. Heldish finished 5 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place Grand Escape. Simply Super paid $5 as the second choice and was timed in a crisp 56.74 seconds over a fast track.

Horacio Karamanos rode the winner for trainer Mike Maker and owner Maxis Stable. Bred in Maryland by Emcee Stable, Simply Super is a colt by Super Saver out of So You Know, by Jump Start.

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The Hickory Tree’s $153,000 sister race, the filly-restricted Keswick, came back much slower and, from the betting public’s perspective, much less formful. Home by 2 1/2 lengths was 13-1 overlay Titotschangedmyluck, whose debut performance, a second-place finish in an open Delaware Park maiden race, was plenty good enough to contend in the Keswick. Titoschangedmyluck dropped her rider on the turn of her second start, which apparently obscured the solid first race, since she was fifth choice in a field of eight.

Under seven-pound apprentice jockey Jairon Barbosa (who didn’t get his apprentice weight allowance, this being a stakes race), Titoschangedmyluck got a good stalking trip, coming between horses in the final furlong to win going away. In second was 37-1 shot Rebel Consort, who had three-quarters of a length on third-place finisher Livana, who was 12-1. Cocktail Dreaming, narrowly favored at 9-5, made the early lead but was displaced, stuck to the fence, and was short of room when making a mild rail run in midstretch. Naval Empire, another 9-5 shot, never came close to reaching contention.

Titoschangedmyluck ran five furlongs on a fast track in 58.59 and paid $29.80. James Lawrence trains the filly and also co-bred and co-owns her with Mathew Schera. Titoschangedmyluck is by Social Inclusion out of Tiztito, by Tiznow.