In a simply tremendous upset, 19-1 shot Brilliant Speed rallied furiously on the far outside to win the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) by a nose.
Ridden by Joel Rosario, the colt -- who was entering off of a close third in the Hallandale Beach Stakes on turf -- sat dead last in the early goin, well off of a slow early pace. That slow early pace was set by Joes Blazing Aaron, who clicked off fractions of :25.14 and :50.33. He was being tracked by Praetereo and Twinspired. The usually late-closing Queen'splatekitten, who stumbled at the start, found himself four wide in fourth early on. Santiva, the favorite, was in tight along the rail in fifth.
On the far turn, Twinspired split horses and made a strong bid for the lead. Joes Blazing Aaron was showing signs of stopping, while Santiva was still lakcing room. Turning for home, it appeared as though Twinspired was on his was to a 24-1 upset. King Congie was closing in gamely, but he was drifting out in the stretch. Suddenly, Brilliant Speed arrived on the scene. Joel Rosario had kept his mount along the rail for the majority of the race, and his colt was full of run in the homestretch.
But was there time to catch Twinspired? Yes. Brilliant Speed angled to the far outside and closed like a rocket to win the Blue Grass in the final strides.
Twinspired finished second, a neck clear of King Congie. Newsdad finished fourth. Santiva, who lacked racing room in the homestretch, ended up ninth, beaten six lengths.
The final time was 1:50.92.
-Keelerman
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