Extravagant Kid prevails in The Lucky Coin

By Jeff Scott SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Not generally known for being the fastest horse out of the gate, Extravagant Kid got the jump on the field from his no. 7 post in Friday’s $100,000 Lucky Coin Stakes. Pocket Change, the 8-5 favorite, went with him from no. 8 as the two quickly opened up a sizable lead.

Pocket Change might have stuck a head in front midway around the turn, but Extravagant Kid took the corner more cleanly, and was back on top as the field headed down the lane. Extravagant Kid maintained his advantage through mid-stretch, even as it looked as though Pocket Change might go by at any moment. But there was no going by the son of Kiss the Kid on this day, as he stayed up the rest of the way, crossing the line a half-length in front.

“He really ran a great race,” said winning trainer Brendan Walsh. “We thought he might be sitting on a big one – he ran a great race at Ellis Park last time out. He’s won his races when he’s been prominent up front. That’s a very good horse [he beat], and it’s nice to be on the front end to get the win here.”

“I knew that when the other horse came, my horse would be good,” said winning rider Jose Ortiz. “I rode the other horse too, so I knew how he would be going like they did in the stretch. My horse kept going, and when he got into the duel, he just goes.”

Spring to the Sky (20-1), a 9-year-old gelding making the 50th start of his eight-year career, finished two lengths behind Pocket Change for third. He was followed by Big Rock, Axtell, Rocket Heat and Bold Thunder. Time of the race was 1:02.21 for 5½-furlongs over a “good” Mellon turf.

The victory was Extravagant Kid’s eighth in 28 starts, and the $55k winner’s purse bumped his career earnings to $347,999. The Florida-bred competes for DARRS Inc.