Saturday, October 30, 2010
OUR KHRYSTY UP IN TIME FOR TURNBACK THE ALARM WIN
By Jenny Kellner
ELMONT, N.Y. – Our Khrysty dueled with favored Funny Moon through the final 200 yards and prevailed by a nose in a thrilling finish to Saturday’s 16th running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap at Belmont Park.
Spotting the field open lengths after an awkward start, the 4-year-old daughter of Newfoundland trailed through the early going as longshots Manitoba Miss and Miss Match vied for the lead through an opening half in 46.84. On the far turn, as Funny Moon moved up three-wide to take over from the tiring pacesetters, jockey Ramon Dominguez maneuvered Our Khrysty up into contention and then into the clear straightening for home. Hitting her best stride in midstretch, Our Khrysty collared the game Funny Moon with a furlong to go and after a fierce saddlecloth-to-saddlecloth battle managed to get her nose in front at the wire.
“She had a troublesome break, which cost her to an extent in the beginning,” said trainer Todd Beattie, who trains Our Khrysty for Renpher Stable. “But Ramon got her to settle in, made a nice ground-saving run around the turn, and then rode the hair off her coming for home.”
Funny Moon, last year’s Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks winner who took the Grade 2 Shuvee at Belmont in May, was 4 ¾ lengths clear of Way With Words. Following her under the wire were Banker’s Buy, Nicksappealinglady, Miss Match, My Dinah, and Manitoba Miss. Awesome Maria was scratched.
The victory was the second this year and second in as many starts for Our Khrysty, who won an overnight stakes in her Belmont Park debut on September 26. Saturday, she completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.21, earning her first graded stakes victory.
“She obviously likes Belmont and the big turns, and runs well here,” said Beattie. “She’s been troublesome because of her unruliness, but Ramon and the big track have helped her plenty. She’s finally getting her ducks in order. We haven’t settled on a spot yet for her next start, but we like it up here.”
Overall, Our Khrysty is 6-5-1 from 17 lifetime starts, and with the winner’s purse of $60,000 has now earned $283,260. Sent off as the 8-5 second choice, she returned $5.40 for a $2 win bet.
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