NEWS
Backtalk captures Sportsman’s Paradise
Posted: Friday, February 26, 2010 8:21 PM
BACKTALK
Emily Stevens/Coady Photography
To view the Sportsman's Paradise, click here.
by Steve Bailey
Gold Mark Farm’s multiple graded stakes winner Backtalk got back to his winning ways on Friday, overcoming some early trouble to win the $72,750 Sportsman’s Paradise Stakes at Delta Downs.
The Smarty Jones colt entered the one-mile two-turn race for three-year-olds off back-to-back unplaced finishes in the Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course and the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland Race Course to conclude his freshman season.
Prior to that, however, Backtalk had captured his first three career starts, including the Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs and the Sanford Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course.
In the Sportsman’s Paradise, Backtalk was bumped early but recovered to chase the pace in third, then fourth, through six furlongs under jockey Miguel Mena.
Making his bid five wide, Backtalk drove into contention and then wore down pacesetter Royal Express to win by a half-length, covering the distance in 1:40.36 on a track rated as sloppy.
Backtalk won for the fourth time from six starts and boosted his earnings to $241,206 for trainer Tom Amoss. He is one of two winners from as many starters out of the stakes-winning Affirmed mare Apasionata Sonata and is a half brother to multiple Grade 2 winner Bsharpsonata.
Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times
