Ky. Downs wrap: Dettori’s 4 Sunday wins include Juvenile Sprint
Riding legend Frankie Dettori already won the big prize with Wimbledon Hawkeye in Saturday’s Grade 3, $2.78 million Nashville Derby. His weekend at Kentucky Downs had only just begun.
Dettori added four victories Sunday, the latest coming with front-running Johnny’s Red Storm in the 6 1/2-furlong, $946,000 Juvenile Sprint Stakes.
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Sent off as the 8-5 betting favorite, Johnny’s Red Storm broke alertly from post 2 in the field of 10. The Twirling Candy colt trained by George Weaver was flanked closely by Twilight Delight (8-1) through early fractions of 21.94 and 44.73 seconds.
It was after that first half-mile where Dettori asked Johnny’s Red Storm for more, and he got it. After Twilight Delight began to retreat under Gabriel Sáez, stalker Obliteration (5-2) with José Ortiz and closer Azizam (5-1) with Florent Géroux gave chase only to come up short. After three-quarters of a mile in 1:08.44, Johnny’s Red Storm completed his two-length victory with a time of 1:14.83 on the firm turf.
Obliteration, trained by Steve Asmussen, came in second. Azizam, also trained by Weaver, finished third as the top three choices crossed in that order. Twilight Delight faded to fourth.
Johnny’s Red Storm paid $5.48, $3.46 and $2.94; Obliteration $4.56 and $3.46; and Azizam $4.02.
Owned by John J. Cronin Jr. and St. John’s men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino’s RAP Racing, Johnny’s Red Storm is 2-for-2 after carrying Kendrick Carmouche to win by four lengths in a 5 1/2-furlong Saratoga debut Aug. 3.
Dettori, 54, also won Sunday aboard maiden Tickin Time Blonde and on Barricade and then Banjo Chris in a pair of allowance races.
Meringue emerges in Juvenile Fillies
With rivals bunched inside her, Meringue took the four path through the last 100 yards, flashing to the lead in the final strides to win by a head in a thrilling renewal of the $1 million Juvenile Fillies covering a one-turn mile.
Luan Machado threaded Meringue (5-1) through homestretch traffic to get the narrow victory over Red Beretta (75-1). To a Flame (8-1) was another nose back in third, and Rose Room (18-1) missed hitting the board by a head as she wound up fourth in the field of 10.
The winning time was 1:34.61 after early splits of 22.10, 44.80, 1:09.37 and 1:21.57.
Meringue returned $13.20, $6.14 and $5.98; Red Beretta $45.28 and $18.86; and To a Flame $7.02.
Owned by Elements Racing and trained by Rodolphe Brisset, Meringue is a Frosted filly who won her debut in a $120,000 maiden race going five furlongs on the Churchill Downs turf June 19. She was moved to dirt Aug. 3, when she finished second to Mythical in the 6 1/2-furlong Adirondack (G3) at Saratoga.