Reigning Court Renders Upset Verdict at Turfway

(from Turfway report)
Making his start in a stakes race, 25-1 shot Reigning Court took the lead after a half-mile and never looked back in the $100,000 Kentucky Cup Sprint (gr. III) for 3-year-olds.

Owned by Brenda and Phillip Robertson, Reigning Court ($53.40, $20.40, $12.60) and jockey Corey Lanerie won the six furlong Kentucky Cup Sprint by a half-length over Island Warrior ($4.80, $4.20), who finished three lengths in front of third-place finisher Hallowed Flag ($8.40).

Reigning Court covered six furlongs in a quick 1:09.13. The gelded son of Glitterman is trained by Scott Blasi and has now won three of 10 starts with earnings of $133,575.

"He's a horse with an enormous amount of talent," said Blasi. "We purchased him privately on behalf of the owners. He was his own worst enemy this winter in Florida. He had a lot of problems shipping from Palm Meadows to Gulfstream. He really turned the corner in Chicago."

Four Sevens, Right Place N Time, Likely, Curtain Bluff, Ghosttrapper, Cognac Kisses, Changing Weather, Lucky Savanah, and Chief What It Is completed the order.

Likely, the 2-1 favorite, was shuffled back at the start and was caught five wide around the turn while making a slight bid for jockey Julien Leparoux.

(Chart, Equibase)