Sharp Pinky Challenge goes down to the wire

Dinobonesaur held off a very determined late charge by race favorite Cortez(IRE) to grab a thrilling win at the wire in this week’s Sharp Pinky Challenge. The wire to wire victory was the first stakes win for the five year old, and saw him post a career best speed for the third time in his last four starts, clocking a 104.6 speed. The win takes his career earnings to the $150999 in his thirty four starts. The stakes victory also gave him a big boost in the competitive Older Long Turf divisional rankings, moving him from a prerace ranking of 212 to a rank of 126 at day end. Pretty much as predicted, payouts weren’t spectacular at the betting window. The winner paid $8.20 $3.70 $3.20 across the board. On the exotics front, the exacta paid a modest $20.30, with the trifecta weighing in with a $39.60 payout.

In a race touted by this reporter to be front loaded with early speed, Dinobonesaur provided all the early fireworks. He broke to a clear lead, shadowed early by Dane Experiment(AUS), though never really seriously challenged. He opened up a length and a quarter by first call, which he extended to two lengths at the half, with the rest of the field nearly ten lengths off the pace. Dane Experiment(AUS) continued to fade slowly as they ran into the second half, and the closers were making up ground very slowly. With no apparent threat from the closers, and a comfortable lead as they crossed the third call, it looked like Dinobonesaur was set to cruise home unopposed. As they crossed the ten furlong marker and moved into the stretch though, the closers really turned up the heat. Cortez(IRE) ate up the eight lengths separating him from the leader like it was candy and looked poised to overtake Dinobonesaur at the wire. With a last ditch effort, Dinobonesaur held him off, crossing the wire with only a scant quarter length of his lead remaining. Expected Yield made up over nine lengths in the second half, seven of it down the stretch to finish third, two lengths out at the wire.