The Twister(AUS) wins Gold Champ Challenge

The Twister(AUS) did exactly what he needed to do in this field, overtaking the early speed and holding off the closers to capture this week’s Gold Champ Challenge. This was the second stakes win for the up and coming colt, and his third win overall in six starts. The $30000 check from this one brings his career earnings to the $122850 mark, netting out to $20475/race. Coming into the race, he was a rank of 36 in the Juvenile Turf Sprint division, and the win bumps him to a rank of 17 among the elite. Things were not a total loss at the betting window this week, with the winner paying $8.70 $4.40 $3.20 across the board. The exotics didn’t make anyone rich, but they provided some decent padding for the pocketbook (assuming you didn’t follow my advice), paying $34.10 in the exacta and $62.30 in the trifecta.

As You Wish(JPN) broke to the front early, pressured from the inside by longshot Ronnie Allen(AUS). He was finally starting to see some daylight, a length and a half out front as they crossed the half. The margin started eroding as they crossed that half post though, with The Twister(AUS), who had settled just off the lead to the outside started to break towards the front under jockey L. Creek. As You Wish(JPN) was still clinging to a length as they crossed into the stretch, but you could see him start to fade shortly thereafter. The Twister(AUS) took over down the strtech, and strolled to a length and a quarter victory as they crossed the line. As You Wish(JPN) held on for second place. Gogh For It(IRE) was flying down the second half, closing from seven lengths out at the half to a length and three quarters before he ran out of track, taking third place.