Our Khrysty dueled with favored Funny Moon through the final 200 yards
and prevailed by a nose in a thrilling finish to Saturday’s 16th
running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap at Belmont Park.
Spotting the field open lengths after an awkward start, the 4-year-old
daughter of Newfoundland
trailed through the early going as longshots Manitoba Miss and Miss Match vied
for the lead through an opening half in 46.84. On the far turn, as Funny Moon
moved up three-wide to take over from the tiring pacesetters, jockey Ramon
Dominguez maneuvered Our Khrysty up into contention and then into the clear
straightening for home. Hitting her best stride in midstretch, Our Khrysty
collared the game Funny Moon with a furlong to go and after a fierce
saddlecloth-to-saddlecloth battle managed to get her nose in front at the wire.
“She had a troublesome break, which cost her to an extent in the
beginning,” said trainer Todd Beattie, who trains Our Khrysty for Renpher
Stable. “But Ramon got her to settle in, made a nice ground-saving run
around the turn, and then rode the hair off her coming for home.”
Funny Moon, last year’s Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks
winner who took the Grade 2 Shuvee at Belmont
in May, was 4 ¾ lengths clear of Way With Words. Following her under the wire
were Banker’s Buy, Nicksappealinglady, Miss Match, My Dinah, and Manitoba
Miss. Awesome Maria was scratched.
The victory was the second this year and second in as many starts for
Our Khrysty, who won an overnight stakes in her Belmont Park
debut on September 26. Saturday, she completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.21,
earning her first graded stakes victory.
“She obviously likes Belmont
and the big turns, and runs well here,” said Beattie. “She’s
been troublesome because of her unruliness, but Ramon and the big track have
helped her plenty. She’s finally getting her ducks in order. We haven’t
settled on a spot yet for her next start, but we like it up here.”
Overall, Our Khrysty is 6-5-1 from 17 lifetime starts, and with the
winner’s purse of $60,000 has now earned $283,260. Sent off as the 8-5
second choice, she returned $5.40 for a $2 win bet.