Share the Upside Outlasts Whitmore in King Cotton
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Photo: Coady Photography
Share the Upside wins the King Cotton Stakes at Oaklawn Park
Share the Upside, the 2-1 second choice, was the first out of the gate and still had plenty left at the end to hold off even-money favorite Whitmore by 1 1/2 lengths in the $125,000 King Cotton Stakes Feb. 8 at Oaklawn Park.
Breaking from the rail under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., the winner was clear early and was never seriously challenged through fractions of :21.89 for the opening quarter and :44.94 for the first half-mile. Whitmore, a grade 1 winner with an affinity for Oaklawn, made his usual late move but was second best as the winner completed the six furlongs in 1:09.39 over a fast track. Silver Ride was third.
Video: King Cotton S. (BT)
"Share the Upside loves Oaklawn," trainer Steve Asmussen said. "I'm glad to see him back here. This is where his best races have been. "For him to start off the sprint series so good, we're obviously hoping for a big meet with him."
Share the Upside, a 5-year-old son of Maclean's Music , improved his record to 5-4-1 in 13 starts and has now earned $345.097 for owners Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Winsor Boys Racing. He returned $6.80 for a $2 win bet.
Also Saturday at Oaklawn, Asmussen unveiled an exciting older mare when Argentine invader La Renoleta improved to 5-for-5 in taking the sixth race, an allowance optional claimer, by 9 1/4 lengths. A grade 1 winner in Argentina, she raced 1 1/16 miles on dirt in 1:44.71 under Santana, paying $4.40. The 5-year-old daughter of Treasure Beach is owned by Swift Thoroughbreds, Paul Braverman, Tim and Anna Cambron, and Bradley Thoroughbreds.