Ancil blistered to a track record-setting win at Tampa Bay Downs March 1 in the $100,000 Turf Dash Stakes (VIDEO) by 1 1/4 lengths in his season debut.
Breaking from the one hole with Daniel Centeno aboard, the 5-year-old son of Lane's End resident City Zip posted a blazing time of :43.46 for the opening half-mile in the Turf Dash before completing the five-furlong race in :54.88. The record time eclipses the previous mark of :54.92 set by Jr's Exchange in 2012.
Ancil had a one-length lead in early stretch and held command for the convincing victory over Pyrite Green. Tell All You Know was another neck back in third. Spring to the Sky, the 2-1 favorite,flattening out late after pressing the early pace and finished fourth in the nine-horse field.
Ancil's co-owner, Kathy Thompson of Brooksville, Fla., said she was not worried about her runner yielding after the rapid time through the first half mile.
"Once he gets the lead around the turn, he just sort of motors off," said Thompson, who campaigns the gelding with Scott Farmer. "When he made that turn and started accelerating—I've seen him do that before—it was exciting to see that happen."
Trained by Joan Scott, Kentucky-bred Ancil earned his first stakes victory and improved his career line to 5-3-3 from 19 career starts and $237,059 in earnings.
His current owners acquired him privately from owner-breeder George Pruette prior to a victorious start to his 4-year-old season last April at Keeneland. He won two of 12 starts for Pruette, who bred him out of the winning With Approval mare Le Grand Belle, a half sister to stakes winner Johnny Dollar.
The 4-1 second choice, Ancil paid $11.20, $5 and $4.60 while Pyrite Green returned $8.60 and $4.60. Tell All You Know brought $7.60.
Spring to the Sky, Stormy Rush, Super Chunky, Cactus Son, Hold On Smokey, and Boltin' Out completed the order of finish.
