Whatwasithinking takes narrow Auburn Stakes triumph

Under a well-timed ride by Kevin Orozco, Whatwasithinking got up to edge longshot Vicente’s Shadow by a nose and Boundary Bay by a neck in the $50,000 Auburn Stakes for 3-year-olds at Emerald Downs on Sunday.

Sent off as the favorite in the 11-horse field, he paid $6.40.

Orozco allowed Whatwasithinking to settle early in the six-furlong dash while Winter Knight and Freiburg dueled through a half-mile in 44.78 seconds.

The Kentucky-bred son of Speightstown appeared to be full of run while stuck behind horses on the turn, and when Sippin Fire drifted out at the top of the stretch he responded with a quick burst of speed to move into the clear. He finished full of run to nip Vicente’s Shadow at the wire.

Vicente’s Shadow was in a stalking position early, angled in to make his move in the stretch, and after taking a brief lead was caught late. Boundary Bay went four-wide around the turn, took the lead midstretch, but came up just short.

The final time was 1:09.63.

“I got a bit stuck behind horses, but when I saw the hole I took my chance and you saw the outcome,” Orozco said. “We were in a little tight at the three-sixteenth pole, but it worked out. The horse really did all the work.”

Whatwasithinking is perfect in four sprints with his only loss coming going 1 1/16 miles in the Turf Paradise Derby.

He is trained by Frank Lucarelli, who wasn’t concerned when Whatwasithinking was in tight early.

“A lot of the horses in the race were making their first start of the year and I figured they would be coming back to him,” Lucarelli said. “I think it helped him to be in tight and not be near the pace.”

Whatwasithinking earned $25,850 for his owners, Randall and Ross LLC and Lucarelli Racing Corp.