He disappointed as the 3-5 choice in the Hambletonian two months ago, but Lucas Wallin trainee Rebuff landed retribution in the third jewel of trotting’s Triple Crown, the 130th edition of the $430,000 Kentucky Futurity, on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 9) at The Red Mile.
An overflow field of 12 made the move for the lead a scramble. By a :27.2 first quarter, Branded By Lindy cleared Temporal Hanover to take the top while Periculum pressed forward up the rim to then take over before a :54.3 half. Through the shuffle, driver Tim Tetrick secured a second-over seat to the far turn as Slay ventured forward uncovered to apply his challenge for the lead nearing three-quarters, timed in 1:22.3. Periculum clung to a diminishing advantage with the field towering behind him for home but held sway until about the eighth pole. Tetrick kicked Rebuff off his cover and slung to the lead in the final stages and posted a one-length victory in 1:50.3 while finally procuring an American trotting classic. Temporal Hanover burst through horses to take second while Cool Papa Bell stormed down the center from near last for third and Periculum settled for fourth.
“Today was first time no shoes, that helped. Hambo day was just a fiasco. He didn’t show up that day, it happens,” Tetrick said after the race. “He redeemed himself today. He’s been a good horse [and] fun to drive for me. Perfect trip. I landed in a good spot – by the time I turned for home, I was second over. When I flipped him, I knew he was good today and he got right by them.”
“We started out very good. After [the Hambo], things haven’t worked out as we wanted,” Wallin said after the race. “A lot of people had doubts about him, but I’m pretty sure we have the best colt and today he showed it.”
Rebuff earned his ninth win from 20 starts and added to his account now worth $962,490 for owners Kjell Magne Andersen, Lucas Wallin and Pieter Delis. The Muscle Hill colt paid $23.90 to win.
Golden Wall As opened the afternoon with a 1:51.2 pocket-pulling win in the $10,000 Cantab Hall, a race for Kentucky Futurity eligibles. Tony Hall steered the Anette Lorentzon-trained son of Walner to victory for owners ACL Stuteri AB and Kjell Johansson. He paid $3 to win the race sponsored by onGait.com.
Following the races, The Red Mile recognized Dexter Dunn as the leading driver of the six-day Grand Circuit meet and Chris Ryder as the leading trainer. Dunn ended the meet having driven 14 winners from 48 starts.
“I obviously got to drive a lot of great horses, nice horses here,” said Dunn. “It’s always a pleasure to race here Grand Circuit time. But C.J. [Ryder] had his horses and did a great job with them, too. A lot of our winners were there. It was a lot of fun.”
That C.J., one Chris Ryder, sent horses to the track 14 times over the six days in Lexington and had their picture taken eight times.
“We started on a roll and we finished on a roll,” said Ryder. “I was really happy with the horses, so I’m thrilled.”
Racing is complete at The Red Mile until later this month when the Corbin meet begins in Lexington. Kentucky-eligible horses will compete through the Corbin meet in Kentucky Sires Stakes events beginning on Oct. 16 and concluding on Nov. 7. First-race post time at The Red Mile is always 1 p.m. (Eastern).
(With files from The Red Mile)