$113,200 Oklahoma Classics Sprint presented by the Will Rogers Downs Cherokee Casino
Specialfite changed his running style and changed his fortunes in the $113,200 Oklahoma Classics Sprint, presented by Will Rogers Downs Cherokee Casino.
The 6-year-old gelded son of Fistfite usually likes to be part of the early pace but was sixth after a quarter-mile in the Sprint under jockey Scott Young. He then rolled past the front-runners down the lane and held off a stubborn Steal Your Face for the victory by the shortest of noses at the finish for the 15-1 upset.
"I kept getting on this horse every day when we took him to Will Rogers Downs (Claremore, Okla.) and he just kept getting better and better." said Young.
Okie Time was a distant third, 6-1/4 lengths behind the top pair with last year’s Sprint winner Herecomesthemannow running fourth. Specialfite paid $33.40 to win, $9.20 to place and $4.40 to show. Shad Seaton trains Specialfite for owner Mary Downing of Pryor, Okla.
From the Academy Award mare Special Merit, Specialfite handled 6 furlongs in 1:10.48 over a muddy surface. The win was the first for all the connections of Specialfite in Oklahoma Classics history.
The exacta (Nos. 7-4) with Steal Your Face was $115.40 while the trifecta (7-4-6) paid $453.40. The superfecta (7-4-6-3) returned $3,257.60.
Specialfite took home $67,920 for his owner and has now won 8-of-19 lifetime starts for earnings of $152,361.
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Photo Credit: Dustin Orona Photography
