Star Student(KY) shines in Jungle Alert(SAF) Bonanza

Star Student(KY) showed he was a star, pulling away in the second half to cement a two and three quarter length victory in this week’s Jungle Alert(SAF) Bonanza. The four year old colt out of Aptitude notched his eighth career victory in thirty starts, and his first at stakes level. He posted a second straight career best speed in this one, putting up a 106.8 number. The win moves his career earnings to the $160373 mark for his thirty starts. The win also gets him on the board in the tough Older Turf Classic Division, moving him to a rank of 204 among older horses. The trifecta was where the best money was in this one, saving the day for the savvy handicappers. The winner paid $7.50 $4.20 $2.80 across the board. The exacta wasn’t the most stellar of payouts at $13.80, but the trifecta helped handicapper’s purses, payng $96.60 on a two dollar bet.

As predicted, Giantsbane provided the early fire works in this one, with co-favorite Star Student(KY) tucked right in off his tail, biding his time. As they crossed the first call, Giantsbane had a length on Star Student(KY), and three to the next nearest horse, seeming well in control. Star Student(KY) cut the margin to three quarters as they reached the half, then simply tunred on the jets, galloping away from the field as they ran into the second half. Stink One(KY) held his ground on the inside, making up three quarters as they moved past the third call and moved into the stretch, but Star Student(KY) owned a three lengths lead as they headed for home, and looked unstoppable as they headed down the stretch. Stink One(KY) shaved off another quarter down the stretch, but just didn’t have enough to get it done, settling for second, two and three quarters out at the wire. In a terrific show of late speed, upstart four year old Enchanting(KY) made up five lengths down the stretch, but was out far too deep at the half, capturing third place, four and three quarters out at the wire.