The six-year-old bay gelding named Rusty marked a triumphant return to the racetrack with a commanding win in the second race of Saturday’s packed nine-race event on April 13, 2024.
After a nearly four-month hiatus, Rusty showcased his competitive spirit and agility in the Optional Claiming race for three-year-olds and upwards, with stakes ranging from $400,000 to $300,000.
The race presented a field that included native-bred six-year-olds who had not won more than four races and imported contenders aged six and above with fewer than three wins, all competing over a distance of 5 ½ furlongs. Under the care of trainer Patrick Lynch and the riding of jockey Reyan Lewis, Rusty displayed courage to obtain this win.
Breaking sharply from the gate, Rusty settled comfortably in third position, trailing behind Rocket Lily, helmed by Raddesh Roman, and Queen Zan, with Shane Richardson in the saddle. As they rounded the half-mile turn, Rusty adhered closely to the inside rails, executed a swift turn into the homestretch, and unleashed a powerful surge in the final moments of the race.
Dominating the field, Rusty crossed the finish line with a substantial lead of 5 ¾ lengths, leaving Rocket Lily and Victoriasmedallion, ridden by Romario Spencer, in his wake. The gelding, sired by Drill out of Kenzie’s Charm, clocked a final time of 1:10.0, splitting the race at 23.4 seconds for the quarter and 48.2 seconds for the half, sealing his victorious comeback in style.
