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  • Petionville sire of Wups 1st Thoroughbred Maiden Derby (May 23, 9th BOI). Owner, Paul Treasure; Breeder, Michael Iavarone...
  • Proud Citizen sire of Citizen Kat 1st Alw (May 23, 7th PEN). Owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.; Breeder, Mark Reid & Charles Zacney...
  • Wando sire of Deb's Girly Girl 1st Alw (May 24, 6th RD). Owner, Deborah F. Metz; Breeder, Deborah F. Metz...
  • Flower Alley sire of Bouquet Booth 1st Alw (May 24, 7th CD). Owner, Right Time Racing LLC; Breeder, Brookdale & Dr. Ted Folkerth...
  • Successful Appeal sire of Warning Song 1st Alw (May 24, 6th PRM). Owner, Maggi Moss; Breeder, Bloodstock Holdings LLC...
  • Holy Bull sire of Catalan 1st Alw (May 24, 8th BEL). Owner, Elizabeth Loftus; Breeder, B. P. Walden & Dr. S. Marcum...
  • Medaglia d'Oro sire of Dealer 1st Alw (May 23, 8th CT). Owner, Coleswood Farm, Inc.; Breeder, Family Broodmare, LLC...
  • Latent Heat sire of Heated Troubles 1st Mdn (May 24, 5th RD). Owner, Ashleigh Stud; Breeder, Ashleigh Stud, Frank Ramos & JackieRamos...
  • Luftikus sire of Joyful Kiss 1st Alw (May 23, 7th CT). Owner, Winfred L. Hess, Jr.; Breeder, Ann M. Casey...
  • Arch sire of Wiki 1st Alw (May 24, 2nd PID). Owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.; Breeder, Stuart S. Janney, III LLC....
  • Smoke Glacken sire of Walker Bay 1st Alw (May 24, 8th CD). Owner, Hammersmith, Dennis L. and Paden Racing, Inc.; Breeder, Brian O'Rourke & Derry Meeting Farm...
  • Benchmark sire of Planet Sunshine 1st Alw (May 24, 5th GG). Owner, Thomas A. Shapiro; Breeder, Thomas Shapiro...
  • Tribal Rule sire of Italian Rules 1st Alw (May 24, 7th BHP). Owner, Barber, Gary and Cecil; Breeder, Nick Cafarchia...
  • Chapel Royal sire of Mr Rodriguez 1st Mdn (May 24, 2nd BEL). Owner, Imperio, Michael and Loftus, Elizabeth; Breeder, Jill Imperio & Daniella Corian...
  • Strut the Stage sire of Head Honcho 1st Alw (May 23, 7th WO). Owner, Annecchini and D'Alimonte Holdings Inc. and Kingfield Farm; Breeder, William D. Graham...
  • Canadian Frontier sire of Golden Frontier 1st Alw (May 24, 3rd CD). Owner, George Fister; Breeder, Brereton C. Jones...
  • First Samurai sire of Nakano 1st Alw (May 24, 8th CRC). Owner, Thoroughbred Futures Racing; Breeder, Hubert Vester...

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Kodiak Kowboy nips Desert Key in Amsterdam thriller

Posted: Monday, July 28, 2008 7:37 PM

Photo: Kodiak Kowboy (outside) dueled stubborn front-runner Desert Key and prevailed in a close finish in the Amsterdam Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course.

KODIAK KOWBOY (outside) AND DESERT KEY BATTLE TO THE WIRE

Adam Coglianese/NYRA photo

by Tim Nichols

Kodiak Kowboy unleashed a determined rally in the stretch and nipped game runner-up Desert Key by a head to win the $150,000 Amsterdam Stakes (G2) on Monday at Saratoga Race Course.

The Posse colt overtook the 1.70-to-1 favorite in the final 20 yards after the two horses separated themselves from the pack in early stretch and dueled through the final furlong.

Kodiak Kowboy completed the 6½-furlong race for three-year-olds in 1:15.56 on a track rated as fast for trainer Larry Jones. Based at Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Maryland, Jones took over training duties of Kodiak Kowboy from former trainer Steve Asmussen after a second-place finish in the Derby Trial Stakes on April 26 at Churchill Downs.

“I have to give credit to Steve [Asmussen],” said Jones, who brought a string of horses to Saratoga for the meet. “He was already pointed to this race. All I had to do was not mess it up.”

Desert Key set a speedy pace and led Eaton’s Gift by a half-length after covering a quarter-mile in :21.79. He extended his advantage to a 1 ½ lengths through a scorching half-mile in :44.19.

Jockey Gabriel Seaz rated Kodiak Kowboy in fourth after a quarter-mile. Kodiak Kowboy, the 2.05-to-1 second choice, moved a half-length behind Desert Key after a half-mile. He launched a sweeping four-wide bid on the backstretch to get into contention and outdueled Desert Key in the final strides to seal the win.

Desert Key was 4 ½ lengths clear of third-place finisher Devereux.

Jones said Kodiak Kowboy could make his next start in the $250,000 King’s Bishop Stakes (G1) on August 23 on the Travers Stakes Presented by Shadwell Farm (G1) undercard.

“Kodiak Kowboy needed this race since it had been a while since he had run,” Jones said. “The King’s Bishop is our target.”

Jones won the King’s Bishop last year with 2007 Kentucky Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) runner-up Hard Spun.

Kodiak Kowboy, owned by Vinery Stables and Fox Hill Farm, is out of the unraced Coronado’s Quest mare Kokadrie. He picked up his second career Grade 2 win and increased his earnings to $684,058.

Bred in Kentucky by Hartwell Farm, Kodiak Kowboy was named Canada’s champion two-year-old colt in 2007.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Tim Nichols is a Thoroughbred Times assistant daily news editor

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