NEWS
Proviso collars Fluke in Kilroe Mile thriller
Posted: Saturday, March 06, 2010 9:57 PM
PROVISO
Benoit & Associates photo
To view the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap, click here.
by Mike Curry
Proviso (GB) unleashed a powerful closing bid in the stretch and overhauled game runner-up Fluke (Brz) in the final stride to win the $250,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap (G1) on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.
Juddmonte Farms’ five-year-old homebred Dansili (GB) mare appeared beaten in the stretch of the 51st edition of the Kilroe Mile. But she made up more than four lengths in the final quarter-mile to nip Citation Handicap (G1) winner Fluke by a nose in a thrilling finish and become the first female to win the Kilroe Mile.
The Kilroe Mile was Proviso’s first official U.S. victory. A multiple Group 3 winner in France, she finished first in her North American debut in the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) in October at Keeneland Race Course but was disqualified and placed second for ducking out in the stretch and causing interference.
Proviso would not be denied in the Kilroe Mile. She split horses without a problem under Mike Smith and reeled in Fluke with a powerful closing kick to win as the 4.70-to-1 third betting choice.
"[Trainer] Billy [Mott] told me, 'You've got to get her to relax if you can. Anything you do could set her off,' "Smith said. “She beat a great bunch of boys here today. I thought I won it and I pumped my fist just to sell it [to the placing judges]."
Proviso completed one mile in 1:35.31 on firm turf to improve to six wins in 19 starts and earnings of $925,473. She is out of the Woodman mare Binche.
Fluke was the hard-luck runner-up after running a great race. The five-year-old Wild Event horse was 1 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Battle of Hastings (GB), a multiple graded stakes winner. Last year’s Kilroe Mile winner, Ever a Friend, threatened entering the stretch but faded to finish sixth as the 2.40-to-1 favorite.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
