Wild charge leads to thrilling Usa Turf in Paris

PARIS — Comeback Kingdom prove to be more than just a wild card, he proved to be a winner, pulling off a thrilling upset as the 11/1 long-shot held off favorite Primetime Sea to win the $100,000 Usa Turf Route at the Hippodrome de Longchamp on Saturday in Paris, providing the region and the country with a welcome distraction from the unnerving tragedy of the previous week.

Coming off the first turf run of his career, the 3-year-old son of Animal Kingdom proved the green stuff really is to his liking, winning back-to-back races and notching his first stakes win for owner Tullan and the Nickesyd master stable.

The result pushed him into the top 100 rankings for turf routers.

Primetime Sea appeared more than game as he charged down the stretch, but he needed even just a yard more of race as Comeback Kingdom held off the challenger to win by a head, posting a speed figure of 96.

“It was, eh, what you call a nail biter,” winning jockey J Tull said. “The 7 had plenty of horse in him but we had positioned ourselves well — as we had talked about — and it worked out. It’s a great win for the horse and for the owners and, I think, for Paris in these hard times right now. Je suis Charlie.”

Those top two came in ahead of show finisher Echoes of Eternity and fourth-place Tonatiuh Light in the field of nine 3-year-old males.

The surprise victor paid $25.60 to win, $12.40 to place and $6.90 to show. Primetime Sea and Echoes of Eternity were the first and second favorites entering the race.

The race was run in 1:56.24 over firm turf.

The final order of finish was Comeback Kingdom, Primetime Sea, Echoes of Eternity, Tonatiuh Light, Intellogent, I Drink Always, Comeback Link, Comeback Choice, Quack Wars.

Running under the same Nickesyd flag as the eventual winner, Comeback Link and Comeback Choice provided the early speed, and at three furlongs they held the lead over Tonatiuh Light and Intellogent.

But at the half-mile mark Comeback Kingdom and Primetime Sea began to make their moves. Comeback Kingdom took the lead at a mile and led Tonatiuh Light and Echoes of Eternity into the final stretch.

The runner-up came storming from the back of the back to make up the distance late, but there just wasn’t enough track.

Primetime Sea remains ranked 63rd among turf routers for stable ss89.