Longshot Hayden’s Splash Shocks Golden Platter Handicap

Eight horses were scheduled to go to the starting gate today in the running of the Golden Platter Handicap (G2). All eight contenders looked at ease during the post parade out to the turf track where the mile and a quarter long race would take place. All loaded easily and without much incident into the starting gate, tensely waiting the bell to sound and the gates to open.

Out of the gate first was Brabastorm, owned and trained by brabant, who was leading by an early three lengths over favorite dawgpound owned Confederacy (IRE) to his inside. Along on the outside and in third position, four and one-fourth lengths back was longshot Hayden’s Splash, trained by bobby2khw. Running along together in fourth and fifth was last years Middle Jewel winner ydrbargain owned New Found Cyclone and Swainny (IRE), trained and owned by fatflab. Out of the gate last and trailing the front runner by eleven lengths was Achaemenes, owned by tbgifted, struggling in his first start on the turf.

Brabastorm extended his lead to five lengths over Confederacy (IRE) with the longshot Hayden’s Splash still running in third, six lengths back. Still along in fourth and fifth were New Found Cyclone and Swainny (IRE). Loosing ground but still in sixth position was tomsfly trained Ferfly’s Deed. One position back in seventh was Surgeon Tubes, owned and trained by squirrel4. Still trailing the field at the back of the pack was Achaemenes.

Just before the stretch it was still Brabastorm in the lead, his grip on the lead being cut down to three and one-fourth lengths under the longshot Hayden’s Splash who was gamely moving up on his outside and came flying into second. New Found Cyclone was also making his move now on the inside and had moved up into third. The favorite, Confederacy (IRE) had dropped back into fourth and was slowing, appearing to be out of contention of the race.Swainny (IRE) still held firmly onto fifth with Surgeon Tubes making a late run and gradually sneaking up into sixth. Dropping back into seventh was Gerfly’s Deed. Still trailing the field a dismal nineteen lengths off the leader was Achaemenes, unfortunately not getting his run here in the Golden Platter.

The field was charging home for the wire now and it was the longshot, Hayden’s Splash, owned and trained by bobby2khw, under jockey T. McGriggs to take the win in the Golden Platter by one fourth of a length with a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred five. Win bets on the longshot son of Afleet returned a nice sum of $31.40. Just back in second was the former Middle Jewel winner New Found Cyclone. Race pacesetter Brabastorm finished third.

Also rans include: Surgeon Tubes, Confederacy (IRE), Swainny (IRE), Gerfly’s Deed, and Achaemenes.