Break Even captures Coronation Cup
SARATOGA SPRINGS >> With the scratch of A Bit of Both – the second choice on the morning line and on paper the most likely horse to contest the lead with odds-on favorite Break Even – the complexion of Sunday’s $100,000 Coronation Cup changed considerably.
With no serious pressure, Break Even emerged from a line of horses shortly after the break and established a two-length advantage, and that was more or less the ball game. The lead fluctuated little, generally staying between two and three lengths. Only in the final sixteen did the daughter of Country Day ease up on the gas, enabling Eye in thes ky to close within a length at the wire.
The outcome, however, was never in doubt. Bohemian Bourbon won the photo for show, 1½ lengths behind Eye in the sky. Midnight Fantasy, My Galina and Lyrical Lady trailed in that order. A Bit of Both, Abyssinian and I’ll handal the cash were early scratches. Break Even scampered the 5½ furlongs over a firm Mellon turf in a sharp 1 minute, 1.59 seconds. It was her first start on turf.
For regular rider Shaun
Bridgmohan, it was business as usual.
“She has been so special from day one,”said Bridgmohan, who has been aboard for all but one of Break Even’s five starts. “She’s so laid back and does everything so professionally. That’s why I took an affinity to her.
“[This was] her first time on turf, and she wanted to go. At first I tried to slow her down, and she didn’t want to. She’d won five in a row, so I said okay, let me be a good passenger and stay out of her way. Speed is her asset, and she has a lot of class about her. Whatever you put her on, she’s game.”
Owner Bob Klein continues to be impressed with his sophomore filly.
“We’ve had a lot of nice horses, but this may be the nicest we’ve ever had. To start 6-for-6; she’s been on five different racetracks; she’s been on turf, slop, dirt, [going] seven-eighths, five and a half [furlongs]. She’ll do whatever you ask her to do.”
Sunday’s victory followed five consecutive victories on dirt. Three of those were in stakes, including the Eight Belles (G2) at Churchill Downs two starts back. The Klein Racing homebred has now banked $424,900.