Snapper Sinclair wins another for Bloom in the Tourist Mile

Snapper Sinclair continued a banner summer for owner Jeff Bloom on Saturday, following up on Midnight Bisou’s Personal Ensign (G1) score a week ago at Saratoga by taking Kentucky Downs’ $750,000 Tourist Mile.

A 4-year-old son of City Zip, Snapper Sinclair won as a 2-year-old over the Franklin, Ky., turf course and has gone on to make it a multi-surface career, entering off a narrow runner-up in the West Virginia Governor’s Stakes (G3) over the dirt.

Snapper Sinclair was off well, but then was shuffled back as the field hit the uphill climb on the back of the course. Winning jockey Julien Leparoux reported after the race his mount had clipped heels.

"We were pretty close to the pace, but around the turn we got shuffled back a little bit," Leparoux said.

Real Story set the pace under Joe Bravo and remained on a clear lead inside the eighth pole. But a host of runners came flying late with Snapper Sinclair prevailing on the outside.

Real Story held on to finish second in a photo over First Premio. Hembree, bet down to 5-2 favoritism, ran fourth.

The final time was 1:37.95. Snapper Sinclair returned $22.80 to win.

Winning trainer Steve Asmussen said he didn't see the incident down the backstretch, but was proud of his charge's ability to overcome trouble. 

"Julien came back and explained what had happened," Asmussen said. "I love how the horse continued on, got back up underneath him. Drawn 1, broke well and last into the straight. Six-wide. Very unconventional trip. But Snapper is a unique horse with a lot of talent.”

In addition to Snapper Sinclair, Bloom also owns to Horse of the Year candidate Midnight Bisou and Henley's Joy, the Belmont Derby Invitational (G1) winner.

Bloom Racing is now 4-for-4 all-time at Kentucky Downs, with three horses winning three stakes.

"Snapper Sinclair started it all off for us at Kentucky Downs," Bloom said. "He’s such a deserving horse. He’s had some trips where he arguably could have been the winner, but he did it today.

"If you look at his resume, he’s been so versatile, run against some of the best horses in the country," Bloom continued. "You like to see these kind of horses get their day in the sun, and he definitely got it today.

Snapper Sinclair improved his record to five wins from 18 starts with more than $1 million earnings.

Real Story was valiant in defeat for trainer Ignacio Correa. He said the son of Fast Bullet could return in the Shadwell Mile (G1).