Under a well-timed ride by Victor Espinoza, solidly favored Kingpin
Ryno came from off the pace Thursday to secure a 1 ¼-length victory over
Valley Cat in Santa Anita’s featured $59,750 Maywood Purse for
California-breds at one mile on turf.
After being overtaken by one-half length as the favorite under
similar conditions in his previous start, Kingpin Ryno was settled into a
stalking position on Thursday as Tricky Mandate sped to a 3 ½-length
lead down the backstretch.
“I didn’t want to go to the lead today,” explained Espinoza. “I
wanted to sit off the pace because I knew I had the best horse, and he
is improving with every race.”
Kingpin Ryno ran down Tricky Mandate in midstretch before
completing the mile in 1:34.02 as Valley Cat rallied for second, 1 ¼
lengths ahead of It’s Not Unusual in the field of 10.
A son of In Excess trained and co-bred by Joshua Litt, the
victorious 4-year-old gelding paid $4.40, $2.80 and $2.80. Valley Cat,
ridden by Rafael Bejarano, returned $3.40 and $2.80. The show price on
It’s Not Unusual, with Alonso Quinonez aboard, was $4.60.
While bettering his record to 2-5-1 in 10 races for J B K
Stables and co-breeder Jason L. Litt, Kingpin Ryno earned $34,800 to
bring his career total to $143,608.