Racing


Koris Knud Chick the Best in the 89 and Under Stakes in Rock Springs
Koris KNud Chick, under jockey Jesus Valenzuela, winning the $22,000 89 and Under Stakes (not black type) Saturday at Sweetwater Downs.

© Gene Wilson & Associates
Koris Knud Chick the Best in the 89 and Under Stakes in Rock Springs

ROCK SPRINGS, WY—SEPTEMBER 8, 2018—Koris Knud Chick and Jesus Valenzuela quickly gained the lead and proved to be much the best in the $22,000 89 and Under Stakes at Sweetwater.

The winning pair stopped the clock in 17.662 in the 350-yard race and earned a 91 speed index in the half-length victory.

Koris Knud Chick ($7.60), the post-time favorite, was second in her trial behind Jesspurr on August 25.

The lightly raced 3-year-old filly was making just her seventh lifetime start in the stake, though she had two previous wins and two second-place finishes. She debuted at Sam Houston and broke her maiden two starts later at Retama last summer.

Koris Knud Chick is a Utah-bred daughter of Teller Cartel, out of Magical Knud Chicks, by Chicks Beduino. Riley Moosman trains for owner and breeder Gordon Knudsen.

Playn Captain and Todd Thomas completed the exacta. The Jay Pitcher trainee won his trial and made his fifth appearance in a stakes race on Saturday.

Playn Captain has three wins and four second-place finishes in his 14 career starts, and he has never finished worse than second in three efforts in Rock Springs.

The Captain Courage gelding is owned by Kelly and Kyle Cook. He was bred in Idaho by Mark and Peggy Brown, out of Playful Choices, by A Regal Choice.

A length behind in third place was Race Lyn and Uriel Dominguez for trainer Tony Hyde and owner Renegade Racing. The 3-year-old filly was bred in California by Steve Burns, DVM, by One Sweet Jess and out of Firebaugh Filly, by Buzz Word.

Race Lyn made her Wyoming debut in Rock Springs in the trial for Saturday’s final. Prior to that start, she had raced exclusively at Los Alamitos, where she broke her maiden in December.

Completing the field were My Big Red Dial, Sweet Sava, One Dashin Chamisa, Stoli Got Jess, Cd Separate, Jesspurr and Bubbles in My Corona.