Gone Ghostly(KY) ekes out win in Carney Memorial
In one of the most thrilling battles Virginia has offered race fans this season, Gone Ghostly(KY) just edged out race favorite Prado Storm(KY) to snatch a victory in this week’s Carney Memorial. The colt kept his record perfect on turf, extending his winning streak to three since his surface switch in late July. The stakes win and it’s attendant $30000 paycheck, takes his career earnings to the $65040, earning him a ranking in the two year old Turf Classic Division. It catapulted him all the way into the top 20, pushing him to number 16 in the division and putting him in possible Breeder’s Bowl contention. The excitement in this race came from the viewing and certainly not the betting, as payouts were once again slim this week. The winner paid $6.00 $3.00 $2.10 across the board. With the two favorites coming out on top, the exotic payout was mediocre at best, with $8.70 payout in the exacta, and an even more disappointing $12.90 in the trifecta.
The break in this race was as tight as they come, with all four competitors breaking as one. Green Kal(IRE) managed to get a scant quarter length lead as they hit first call, and Gone Ghostly(KY) had settled a off the pace, looking for an opening. Crossing the half it was even closer, with Gone Ghostly(KY) moving into within three quarters of the front runners, who were barely separated by a head. As they stormed into the second half, Green Kal(IRE) rapidly began to fade, and the duelists were down to three. Prado Storm(KY) had edged out to a scant quarter length lead as they reach the top of the stretch, with the three runners still bunched inside three quarters of a length as they headed for home. Another burst of speed, and it was down to a two horse battle, as Tactician Ted(KY) couldn’t find anything extra. And the battle went right down to the wire, with Gone Ghostly(KY) crossing a short half length ahead of Prado Storm(KY) to notch the victory. Tactician Ted(KY) took third place, two and three quarters out at the wire.