NEWS
Mushka prevails in Spinster via disqualification
Posted: Sunday, October 11, 2009 6:03 PM
MUSHKA (left) IMPEDED BY PROVISO (GB) (right) AND AWARDED FIRST
PhotosByZ.com/Keeneland
To view a video replay of the Spinster Stakes, click here.
by Mike Curry
Mushka cemented a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) with a victory via disqualification in the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) at Keeneland Race Course on Sunday.
The Spinster is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series, guaranteeing the winner a starting spot in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, and inside the eighth pole it appeared Proviso (GB) had punched her ticket to the World Championships. Making her North American debut, Proviso rallied from off the pace to take charge in the stretch under Rajiv Maragh but ducked out approaching the sixteenth pole, impeding the late run of fast-finishing Mushka under Kent Desormeaux.
Following an objection by Desormeaux and lengthy inquiry, Keeneland stewards disqualified 3.40-to-1 second betting choice Proviso and elevated Mushka to first for her first career Grade 1 victory.
“I thought the last sixteenth of a mile, the leader [Proviso] had idled on the lead and she was stopping. At that point, she at the same time was making a right-hand turn,” Desormeaux said. “With the momentum change that was being made by her gawking on the lead, I know I would have definitely caught her. But when she made me stop as well, not to run over her, she made me lose my momentum and that cost me from beating her.”
The final time for 1 1/8 miles was 1:49.01 on the synthetic Polytrack surface.
Sent off at 5.20-to-1 odds, Mushka improved to two wins in as many starts on a synthetic surface. She boosted her earnings to $723,625 with her sixth win in 16 career starts for trainer Bill Mott and owner Brushwood Stable. Bred in Kentucky by Diane Snowden, Mushka is out of the stakes-winning Seeking the Gold mare Sluice. Mott said he will point Mushka toward the Ladies’ Classic.
“I’ve gotta be thinking that way, for sure,” Mott said.
The Spinster was bittersweet for the race’s sponsor, Juddmonte Farms, which bred and races Proviso but also stands Mushka’s sire, classic winner Empire Maker, at its Lexington farm.
Proviso is a multiple group stakes winner in France and runner-up in the 2007 Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile (Eng-G1). She made her first start for Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel in the Spinster.
“My horse ran huge today and she was definitely the best,” Maragh said. “I made the lead with her and then she stopped focusing, so I tapped her and when I did she just bolted out. But still that other horse was never going to pass me. I’m disappointed, of course, but that’s the call and there’s nothing you can do.”
Teamgeist (Arg) rallied from last in the 11-horse field to finish third, 1 1/4 lengths clear of Dawn After Dawn. Be Fair set a solid pace through a half-mile in :46.96 before fading to seventh. Swift Temper never fired and finished tenth as the 3.10-to-1 favorite.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
