NEWS
Peppi Knows holds on in Whirlaway
Posted: Saturday, February 06, 2010 3:33 PM
PEPPI KNOWS
Adam Coglianese/NYRA photo
To view the Whirlaway Stakes, click here.
by Ron Parker
Philip Messina’s Peppi Knows posted a clear win on Saturday at Aqueduct in the $95,000 Whirlaway Stakes, a race in which Triple Crown hopeful Eightyfiveinafifty, the 3-to-10 favorite, bolted on the first turn and unseated jockey Jorge Chavez.
The 1 1/16-mile race on Aqueduct’s inner track drew five three-year-olds. Papa’s Nice Cat went to the lead, with Eightyfiveinafifty challenging until he blew the first turn, while Three Day Rush and Peppi Knows tracked the pace.
Peppi Knows moved up to take the lead after six furlongs, opened a 2½-length advantage in early stretch, and held off a late challenge from Afleet Again for a one-length victory. He completed the distance in 1:47.10 on a track rated as fast.
“Everything went well,” winning trainer Timothy Kreiser said. “Obviously what happened with [Eightyfiveinafifty], I don’t know. It helped things, I guess, maybe it didn’t. It would have been nice to see that horse run just to see what we had there. We can’t do anything about that, he ran his race and we’re really happy.”
It was another half-length back to an unlucky Three Day Rush, who was forced wide on the first turn when Eightyfiveinafifty bolted.
Trainer Gary Contessa reported after the race that Eightyfiveinafifty was not seriously injured after a frightening adventure that included jumping the two outside fences and wandering all the way to track’s backstretch entrance, where he was corralled by a member of the security staff before he could make it out onto 114th Street.
“He has a two-inch cut on his right hind leg, and he’ll need a couple of stitches, but he was walking sound. I’m completely mystified as to what happened. I don’t know if it was the horse, the jockey, or an equipment malfunction,” said Contessa, who later said that he thought a faulty bit might have been the cause. “The bit was broken and the rein was shredded—the equipment was in shambles—but I don’t know if that happened during the race or after he bolted.”
Chavez was conscious after the incident and was taken by ambulance to North Shore University Hospital for further evaluation and was released when X-rays came back negative. Contessa said he hoped to find out more details after speaking with Chavez.
The Whirlaway was the second stakes victory for Peppi Knows, winner of last year’s Finger Lakes Juvenile Stakes and second to Buddy’s Saint in the Remsen Stakes (G2). The Stephen Got Even gelding has never finished worse than third. He increased his earnings to $178,400 with four wins from six starts.
Bred in Kentucky by G. Watts Humphrey Jr., Peppi Knows is out of the winning Seeking the Gold mare Miracle Worker, a full sister to multiple stakes winner Meiner Love.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Ron Parker is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
