Favorite topped in SAINT RAPIDS Challenge

Desert Jeep(IRE) proved to have all the right stuff as he topped favorite Canungra Follies(KY) in the 2008 version of the SAINT RAPIDS Challenge on Saturday in Kansas. The two-year-old picked up his first career stakes win and third straight overall victory as he strode across the 7.5 furlongs of dirt in 1:31 1/5 with a career high speed mark of 82.

Canungra Follies went straight to the lead with a strong break out of the gate, but Desert Jeep, Destination Colac(ENG) and Never Blessed(KSA) all challenged and pushed the leader. Primary Target(AR) slid right to the back, and Grey Colac(KY) fell in line just in front of him and looked to close. The closing effort never really came, though, as Primary Target made a move down the stretch to advance one position but never threatened the lead. Grey Colac slid up to fourth as the other horses tired, but finished 5-1/2 lengths off the lead.

Desert Jeep made his move at the three-furlong mark as the field began to thunder around the turn, and Destination Colac began to run on empty around the same point, sliding all the way to the back. Never Blessed gave a steady effort down the stretch, but never fired enough to challenge the front two horses, who both put distance between themselves and the rest of the field. After a strong first half of the race, Canungra Follies could not catch Desert Jeep, as the new leader powered down the stretch and never left anything in question.

Desert Jeep, with L Buchholtz aboard, paid a nice $13.30 to win while Canungra Follies paid out $2.80 to place. Never Blessed hit the board at $4.20 to show. Exacta winners took home $27.00 and the correct trifecta rewarded bettors with $156.10.