Blue Epiphany off the mark
Four-year-old bay filly Blue Epiphany, after six career starts, found the winning post in front in a native-bred four-year-old Maiden Condition Race over 5 ½ furlongs (1,100m).
Jockey Matthew Bennett got the Tensang Chung-conditioned Blue Epiphany out of the starting gates in good order as they stormed to the front ahead of Supreme Star (Richard Reid) and Run Jaya Run, the mount of Dick Cardenas.
It was smooth sailing navigating the half-mile for Blue Epiphany, who held her gallop well to the wire, finishing 6 lengths ahead of Run Jaya Run and Wreckless Diamond (Kiaman McGregor). Oh My Goodness (Oneil Mullings) finished third but was disqualified and placed out of the frame.
The final time for the event was a pedestrian 1:10.3.
Based on available statistics, Blue Epiphany was Chung’s 199th winner.
Talented Tony K earns another win
Talented Tony K, the former 2000 Guineas winner, made one move to beat rivals in a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming event ($250,000-$200,000) over 4 furlongs (800m).
Trained by Winchester McIntosh and ridden by Hakeem Pottinger, Talented Tony K, in the only way he knows how to compete, jumped on top at the off and was never in doubt of giving up his lead.
Talented Tony drew away inside the final furlong to win by 3 lengths ahead of Mamacita (Anthony Thomas) and Blu Attitude (Robert Halledeen). The final time for the quick dash was 47.2.
Talented Tony K was winning for the 15th time from 64 career starts.
Timetosaygoodbye in the nick of time
The Donovan Russell trained Timetosaygoodbye, despite exiting from the feared number one draw, proved equal to the task by keeping a straight line, and, as a result, got up in time to beat Paintthistownred in a five-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($180,000-$150,000) call over 5 furlongs (1000m) straight.
Timetosaygoodbye sat off the pace in third place as Paintthistownred (Dick Cardenas) led at the start ahead of Ballon D’Or (Ruja Lahoe). Hewitt continued to bide his time as Paintthistownred led comfortably coming across the dummy rails.
Inside the final half-furlong, jockey Roger Hewitt produced his mount with a final kick and Timetosaygoodbye found extra to nip Paintthistownred on the wire, winning by a neck.
Original Train (Jordan Barrett) finished third as the final time for the event was recorded at 1:03.0.
Kay Boy goes one better
After finishing a close second on last going 6 ½ furlongs (1,300m) behind Adore Brilliance, the Gresford Smith-conditioned Kay Boy went one better when leading home rivals in a four-year-old and upwards (non-winners of three) event over 5 furlongs straight.
With Aaron Chatrie in the irons, Kay Boy broke among the backmarkers as Ocean Wave (Dick Cardenas), Kholbear (Matthew Bennett) and Another Prosecutor (Natalie Berger) disputed the early lead.
Coming across the dummy rails, Kay Boy hit another gear and powered his way through horses in the final part of the race to win going away by 3 ½ lengths under the hand ride.
Kholbear was second and Another Prosecutor third in a final time of 59.4.
Five horses claimed
Five horses were claimed on the nine-race card.
In the third race, Uton Stewart claimed Mamacita for owner Marshall Russell from Nicholas Smith for $250,000.
Patrick Fong claimed Paintthistownred for owner Joshua Black from Ian Parsard for $150,000 from the fourth race.
In the seventh race, Dennis Pryce claimed Rack Away for owner Busy Racing Stable from Nicholas Smith; Ryan Darby claimed Hot Ice for owner Preston Munroe from Raymond Townsend, and Donovan Plummer claimed Olde Wharf for owner Glendon Drummond from Gary Subratie. All horses were claimed at $550,000 each.
