NEWS
Dancing in Silks scores in Sprint thriller
Posted: Saturday, November 07, 2009 3:23 PM
DANCING IN SILKS
Benoit & Associates photos
To view the Breeders' Cup Sprint, click here.
by Steve Myrick
A blanket finish crowded with longshots highlighted the thrilling finish of the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), with California-bred Dancing in Silks confirmed the winner at odds of 25.30-to-1 in a four-horse photo finish.
The Black Minnaloushe gelding won by a nose over Crown of Thorns, the runner-up at 15.50-to-1 odds.
Cost of Freedom was another head back in third, followed by 2.20-to-1 second wagering choice Gayego. Zensational got off to a step slow and finished fifth as the 9-to-5 favorite.
Fanned out across the track, the top flight hit the finish line so close together few in attendance had any confidence in calling the winner.
“I had a very good trip, and had a good chance outside when we got to the stretch,” winning rider Joel Rosario said. “It was very close, but my horse always runs with his head up, so I was just hoping that would help at the finish.”
The Sprint drew a competitive field of nine. Cost of Freedom set much of the early pace through fractions of :21.88 for the first quarter and :44.22 through a half-mile. Dancing in Silks rated in fourth under Rosario, split horses in midstretch, and stuck his nose in front in a scintillating finish. He completed six furlongs on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface in 1:08.14.
After the race, owner Ken Kinakin touted the power of positive thinking, and he certainly had plenty of that as he had to pay a supplemental fee to get the colt into the starting gate.
“I have this connection with my horses,” Kinakin said. “I just believed in the horse.”
Kinakin said he saw a twinkle and spirited nature in the colt when he first saw him. He also saw a bargain, paying only $21,401 for him at the 2006 Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (British Columbia division) yearling and mixed sale.
The Sprint victory was the first Breeders’ Cup win for trainer Carla Gaines, who was happy that her efforts to talk the owner out of paying the supplemental fee fell on deaf ears.
“I really tried to discourage Ken from putting that much money up,” said Gaines. “He was determined to do it.”
Out of the multiple stakes-winning Royal and Regal mare Lemhi Love, Dancing in Silks earned $1,080,000 with the win and improved to seven wins in 13 career starts. He entered off a win against California-breds in the Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint Handicap.
For video of winning jockey Joel Rosario, click here.
For video of winning trainer Carla Gaines, click here.
For quotes, click here.
Steve Myrick is a Massachusetts-based correspondent for Thoroughbred Times
