Kola Kat on the way to the Winner's Circle with Elton Dickey.
by George
Kola Kat was the only maiden in the field heading into the $15,000 Gold Strike Mile on Friday night. He’s a maiden no more.
Ridden by Tim Moccasin, Kola Kat took advantage of a cat and mouse pace battle between favourite Danger Rules and 6-1 Charlie Waffles to rally for 2 ¼-length victory in the Gold Strike, despite being back early off a slow pace.
Trained by Irene Britton for Let Er Rip Stable, Kola Kat trailed behind slow fractions of 24.40 and 49.60 but started to move up along the rail on the final turn in the mile race, just as Danger Rules and Charlie Waffles began a serious duel that lasted the length of the stretch.
Turning for home Moccasin had Kola Kat in perfect position just back of the duelers after six furlongs in 1:14.80, before rousing his mount to an outside rally that carried him by the tiring duelers late in the drive. The final time for the mile over a fast strip was 1:41.80.
Danger Rules fought back to take the place by a half-length after being headed more than once by the surprisingly game Charlie Waffles. It was 6 ¼-lengths back to Bashful Coco, who had a good trip stalking the pacesetters but failed to fire in the drive.
A bay 3-year-old gelding by Battle Cat-Olanda by Jules, Kola Kat was bred in Manitoba by Larry Falloon. The Gold Strike Mile victory was the first of his eight-start career, but he had been improving, and one of his better previous races had come in the one-mile Buffalo Stakes last year, when he finished fifth beaten two lengths.
Rohan Singh scored a triple on the night to move into a 43-39 lead over Paul Nolan in the jockey standings. Jennifer Reid also took a pair to hold her position in third place in the standings with 33 wins.
Nolan won the last race aboard overlooked longshot Dave’s Con Job ($23.40) for trainer Wade Rarick, who continues to operate at a strong 28 percent win clip. Remaining singles on the night went to Tim Moccasin and Trevor Simpson, both of whom continued to win regularly, and not always with choice mounts.
Simpson’s win in the seventh aboard Babble Champ was the second of the night for trainer Shelley Brown, who also won the sixth race with Reba, courtesy of another heady ride by Jennifer Reid. Brown’s two wins brought her total for the year to 22, one behind Blair Miller and three in front of Ardell Sayler.
The best payoffs on the night came in the form of Superfectas on the last three races, when despite two 5/2 shots winning the sixth and seventh, the $2 Superfectas paid $2,053.50 and $1,558.20 respectively. The largest Superfecta on the night came in the eighth, when Wade Rarick’s 11-1 Dave’s Con Job triggered a $3,729 Superfecta.
Both Rarick and Brown’s horses continue to be sent off as overlays more often than not at this point in the season. Remember to include them in your exotic wagers and, when the price is right…
Bet them to win.
Oh, and sorry, but we disagree with the article This stat was bad for Bull in The Insider last week that said Balooga Bull lost the Harry Jeffrey Stakes last Saturday because of jockey Paul Nolan's route stats. It just doesn't make any sense to judge a rider off of such limited stats. Balooga Bull just didn't seem to have it in his first try at a route. Let's see if he learns something from that race. We're certainly not ready to discount him yet. Your thoughts?
Next Post Time for Live Racing: 7 p.m. Saturday, July 21, 2012
Bull was just flat. The 6 furlong split was about 4 seconds slower than his last race. If he put up solid splits and just ran out of gas, I’d buy into the idea that he can’t handle 2 turns. But he didn’t. He was just flat all around. I expect a better effort in the Derby (assuming he still runs in it).