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Contact: David Zenner
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NIKKI’S SANDCASTLE UPSETS HANSHIN CUP FIELD
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (May 24, 2014) – Richard Sherman’s Nikki’s Sandcastle closed from mid-pack to win the Grade III $150,000 Hanshin Cup by a half-length on Saturday at Arlington International Racecourse. Leandro Goncalves rode the David Kassen trainee who covered the one-turn mile over Polytrack in 1:35.57.
The 7-year-old Castledale gelding has a propensity to get in traffic during his races so Kassen and Goncalves changed the game plan for the Hanshin. “We changed a bit to break to get him closer and not take him as far back as where he’s been and always gets in trouble,” Goncalves said. “I just wanted to make sure he got a good trip because I knew he’d show up.”
Mongolian Saturday, who broke from the outside post in the 13-horse field, led the field through a quick pace of 23.07 seconds, 45.81 seconds and 1:10.30 before fading to finish eighth. Nikki’s Sandcastle began his rally five-wide on the turn and was in contention turning for home before taking the lead inside the final eighth of a mile.
The Hanshin was the second graded stakes victory for Nikki’s Sandcastle who previously captured the Grade II Fayette Stakes at Keeneland, also over a synthetic surface. Overall it was his 10th win in 40 starts and the $82,800 cut of the purse pushed the homebred’s earnings to $650,707.
Mister Marti Gras rallied from far back to finish second, a half-length clear of Pass the Dice.
“My horse tried hard and gave it all he had,” said Mister Marti Gras’ rider Eduardo Perez. “I thought I would have passed (the winner) in the last sixteenth but he just hung on me. I thought I had a good chance when I saw the speed fractions.”
“It was pretty uneventful,” said jockey Channing Hill of his trip aboard Pass the Dice. “We kind of bullied our way out at the top of the lane. I thought we had a really good shot. I have to give the first- and second-place horses a lot of credit.”
Joha, Valentino Beauty, 2011 Hanshin winner Havelock, Sir Applesolutely, Mongolian Saturday, Fordubai, Tulira Castle, Pataky Kid, defending champion Hogy and Francois completed the order of finish.
“He lost his tongue tie going to the gate, that didn't help,” said Chris Emigh, who rode Hogy. “Then he got into a pinch where he was trapped between horses on the outside, he doesn't like that. He likes to have a clear run on the outside. He got squeezed out there, I had to check a little and it was all over.”
Nikki’s Sandcastle paid $16.40, $7.80 and $5.20. Mister Marti Gras returned $14.40 and $6.80. Pass the Dice paid $4.60.
“He lost his tongue tie going to the gate, that didn't help. Then he got into a pinch where he was trapped between horses on the outside, he doesn't like that. He likes to have a clear run on the outside. He got squeezed out there, I had to check a little and it was all over.”
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David Zenner│Senior Manager of Communications
Arlington International Racecourse
2200 W. Euclid Ave. Arlington Heights IL 60006-0007
P 847.385.7535│C: 847.371.1670 | F: 847.870.6727│E: David.Zenner@arlingtonpark.com
Twitter: @dave_zenner, @arlingtonracing
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