Gipper’s FOR SPEIGHT slays the dragon

By ITCH

The Grade 3 Gary Asher Memorial was supposed to be an easy rung for Given’s DISTORTED DRAGON as he climbs the ladder toward Sim immortality.

Somebody forgot to tell Gipper. His FOR SPEIGHT, a brown son of Speightstown, slayed the Dragon in surprisingly easy fashion. He ran off to score the first graded victory of his career and might have drawn himself into the Triple Crown picture.

Distorted Dragon, who had been entered early to scare off any opposition, slipped to No. 2 in the rankings with the defeat. Kevoman’s HOT AND SPICY, winner of the first Derby Lock Prep of the year down in New Orleans, moves up to No. 1.

It was a surprising loss for Given’s colt, especially considering how few of the Sim’s 3yo elite had dared to face Distorted Dragon in the Asher. There was nobody in the Top 40 in the race and Dragon was supposed to win easily. Instead, he broke way back in 10th and never looked like he could win at any point in the race. Closing for second from the far outside, DD never threatened For Speight, who took supreme advantage of his rail post position.

For Speight broke fifth, a comfortable distance from the pace-setting BOLD KINGS. When that one began to fade at the halfway point, For Speight moved up to third. He took the lead in the lane and easily held off DD, who had to run hard to catch Rafa’s ALTABLE for the place money. With the win, For Speight moves into the Top 50 of 3yo colts.