Trinniberg tops sophomore exacta in Sprint

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Trinniberg tops sophomore exacta in Sprint
by BRIS
Date Posted: 11/3/2012 9:09:30 PM
Last Updated: 11/5/2012 2:58:05 PM

Sherry Parbhoo's Trinniberg snapped a three-race losing streak and possibly clinched an Eclipse Award championship with a swift and decisive score in Saturday's $1,363,500 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita.

Away sharply, the sophomore son of Teuflesburg sat a half-length behind Sum of the Parts through an opening quarter of :21 2/5. Sent to engage that rival around the far turn, Trinniberg poked his head in front as the half was reached in :43 3/5 and then pulled clear in the stretch.

Extending his advantage to 1 1/2 lengths a furlong out, Trinniberg braced for the challenge from fellow three-year-old The Lumber Guy, the Grade 1 Vosburgh winner. Trinniberg held sway, however, turning back that rival and passing the wire three-quarters of a length on top in a blistering time of 1:07 4/5 for six furlongs over a fast track. A 13-1 longshot with Willie Martinez aboard, Trinniberg returned $29.40, $13.20, $11.

"When he turned for home, I felt really good," trainer Shivananda Parbhoo said. "I added blinkers today because I thought in his last few races he had lost confidence, but we never lost our confidence in him. I knew he would be in front at the eighth pole, and that's why I added the blinkers. This is awesome."

The Lumber Guy finished a clear second by 2 1/4 lengths, with 20-1 chance Smiling Tiger rumbling late to pass Sum of the Parts for third by a head. Following Sum of the Parts under the wire were Justin Phillip, Fast Bullet, Coil, Amazombie, Jimmy Creed, Hamazing Destiny, Gantry, Capital Account, Boxeur des Rues and Poseidon's Warrior.

Along with much of the Southern California-based contingent, 2011 Sprint winner and divisional champion Amazombie failed to fire.

"He wasn't himself today," said jockey Mike Smith of Amazombie. "I don't know what it was, but something was wrong. I knew around the turn that we were in trouble. He quit running, and it was like he didn't want to be here."

A debut winner at Calder last July by 5 3/4 lengths, Trinniberg was fifth, beaten 26 lengths, in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special in the slop in his next outing. He encountered the same track conditions in the Grade 1 Hopeful on Labor Day, but fared much better to be a stubborn second to Currency Swap at odds of 68-1 after leading most of the way. He occupied the same position after a similar run in the Grade 2 Nashua at Belmont Park, but went way too fast in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint at Churchill Downs. Pressured by eventual winner Secret Circle through an opening quarter of :20 4/5, Trinniberg made a steady retreat to finish seventh in the nine-horse field.

Trinniberg opened his three-year-old account with back-to-back wins in the Grade 3 Swale and Grade 3 Bay Shore, both at seven furlongs. However, he was unnecessarily thrown into the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby for his next start and retreated to 17th after pressing the fast early pace.

Back to the winner's circle following the Grade 2 Woody Stephens on June 9, Trinniberg then commenced a three-race losing skid in the Grade 3 Carry Back over his home base at Calder. An uncharacteristic ninth in the Grade 1 King's Bishop next time after losing several shoes, Trinniberg made his final Breeders' Cup prep in the Gallant Bob at Parx Racing, where he finished second. Following this initial success against older rivals, Trinniberg has earned $1,483,300 from a line of 13-5-4-0.

Trinniberg was bred in Kentucky by J M Stables and sold for $21,000 at the OBS April Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. He was produced by the stakes-placed Bella Dorato, a daughter of Goldminers Gold, and is now the first stakes winner produced in the past four generations of his family. This female line once yielded Cavalcade, who captured the 1934 Kentucky Derby.

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