Turf no challenge for race favorite

Fly With Kirby(AUS) proved that he could, in fact, do it on turf as well, notching an impressive length and three quarters victory in this week’s Gold Champ Challenge. This was the third stakes win for the impressive young colt out of Flying Pegasus(AUS), and his fifth win in seven starts. The victory took his career earnings to the $145200 mark, translating to a very nice $20743/race. The victory put him on the board in the Juvenile Turf Sprint division, vaulting him into the top 100 at a 97 rank. It also solidified an already strong dirt ranking of 27 in that division. Once again, it wasn’t exactly paradise for our handicapper’s out there. The winner paid $4.50 $2.10 $2.10 across the board. The 4/1 shot in the backseat of the exacta helped the exotci payouts a bit, but it still wasn’t anything to write home about, with a $16.80 payout in the exacta and a $29.00 even payout in the trifecta.

As expected, Lucky Street(KY) got out in front early, but he couldn’t get the clean lead he was looking for in this one. From the break, he was shadowed closely by Fly With Kirby(AUS) and Loch Doon(IRE). Less than a length separtaed the three at the first call, with Lucky Street(KY) running hard but not managing to put any distance on his shadows. Loch Doon(IRE) packed it in at the first call, leaving Lucky Street(KY) and Fly With Kirby(AUS) going neck and neck as they headed for the halfway mark. Crossing the half, Lucky Street(KY) was still cling to the same quarter length lead he had at the first call, fighting valiantly to stay out in front. He managed to hold on nearly till the top of the stretch, where the early effort finally started to take its toll, allowing Fly With Kirby(AUS) to slide by the flagging leader as they turned for home. Down the stretch it was all Fly With Kirby(AUS) as he tunred up the pace a notch, running away from the field. Wells O’ Gold(SAF) made a determined effort to catch him, but could only make up a quarter length of the two he was down at the top of the stretch, and he settled for second, one and three quarters behind. Lucky Street(KY) held on for third place, two lengths out at the wire.