Turbo Compressor proved once again that speed can be dangerous. The 4-year-old Halo's Image ridgling, who makes it a habit of being in front, got out to a narrow lead in the $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup Stakes at Colonial Downs and held it to the end under jockey Joe Bravo (VIDEO).
Despite the appearances of last year’s respective winner and runner-up, Rahystrada and Smart Bid, Turbo Compressor was favored at 5-2. Turbo Compressor set moderate fractions of :24.34, :49.78, and 1:14.35 in the 1 3/16-mile race over firm turf while chased by Humble and Hungry. After the latter weakened, Rahystrada and Smart Bid, along with 3-1 second choice Air Support, joined the chase in the stretch but proved no match for Turbo Compressor, who opened up by 2 1/2 lengths and finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of Air Support. Rahystrada and Smart Bid finished just behind behind the runner-up.
Turbo Compressor’s time, 1:55.15, was about a half second slower than last’s year’s clocking of 1:54.68 over a firm turf course.
Following Smart Bid in fourth were Silver Tie Affair, Forte Dei Marmi, Casino Host, Humble and Hungry, Gourmet Dinner, Tilden Lane, and Atoned.
Turbo Compressor paid $7, $4.40, and $4.00. Air Support returned $5.20 and $3.20, and Rahystrada paid $4.40.
Racing for P and G Stable in partnership with Off the Hook LLC, Turbo Compressor had been out three times this year prior to the Colonial Cup. Trained by Todd Pletcher, he began the year with a third in the Florida Sunshine Millions Classic Stakes at Gulfstream Park and then sprinted away to an optional claiming victory at that track. Prior to the Colonial Cup, Turbo Compressor finished eighth in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (gr. IT) on the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) undercard.
Turbo Compressor, who earned $282,000 in the Colonial Cup, upped his earning to $620,960 with his latest score. He has won six of his 13 outings, including three stakes triumphs.
Bred in Florida by Bridlewood Farm, Turbo Compressor is out of the Wild Event mare Dixieland Event.