Sip Of Saki captures Six Up Monster Special

Sip Of Saki proved why he carries a number 2 divisional ranking, capturing this week’s Six Up Monster Special by three lengths. This was the first run of the new season for the six year old horse, who added a thirteenth career victory to his resume to start the new year. He maintains his number 2 ranking in the division, inching a little closer to that magical number one spot with the stakes points earned here. The paycheck took his career earnings to the $3,604,230 mark in his thirty four career starts, an impressive mark of $106007/race. This was his first win since back to back Grade I victories last July and August, and he posted a blazing 112.8 speed figure. He looks to be getting right on track for this new season. With some of the young up and comers here stepping up the the challenge, we saw some decent payouts at the betting windows this week, as well. The winner paid $8.20 $5.00 $3.00 across the board. Shored up by the midlevel odds, we saw a $69.50 payout in the exacta, and a very nice $628.50 in the trifecta.

Dumber Than A Rock(IRE) set the early pace in this one, shadowed early by Kondor(KY) though never really seriously challenged. By first call he had opened up a length and three quarters on the challeger, tacking on another length to that as they moved past the half post, with the rest of the field sitting five or more legths off the pace. The closers started pressing the pace hard in the second half, but Dumber Than A Rock(IRE) still seemed well in control, with nearly a two length lead as they crossed into the stretch. Seven horses were bunched within four and a half lengths behind him, and as they crossed into the stretch this bunch simply exploded like skyrockets, surging past the flagging leader en masse as a tight group. When the dust cleared as they approached the wire, Sip Of Saki had opened up three lengths to win, with a tight bunch three to four legths behind. Upstart colt Forever Quest(KY) took second place honors, edging out the competition with another beautiful deep close in the second half. Hoegaarden(KY) was awarded third place honors in a photo finish with Leo’s Jewels(IRE), both three and a half out at the wire.