Power Alert Takes Twin Spires in Record Time

Power Alert, who has made an impression since his arrival from Australia, continued his good form with a course-record victory in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by Twinspires.com (gr. III) May 1 at Churchill Downs .

Ridden by Julien Leparoux for trainer Brian Lynch, Power Alert broke from post 10 in the five-furlong event, dueled early with Heitai to his inside and Something Extra to his outside, took over on the far turn and won comfortably as the late runners were unable to catch him. The final time of :55.17 on a course rated firm topped the previous record of :55.45 set by Silver Timber in 2010.

Power Alert, owned by James Covello, AJ Suited Racing Stable, and trainer Lynch, is by the Argentine sire Alert out of the Lochrae mare Gold Locket. The 5-year-old gelding was bred in Australia by Mr. J. Power.

The opening-quarter mile of :21.57 was established as Heitai, Power Alert, and Something Extra dueled across the course from the hedge out. Power Alert cleared and passed the half-mile station in :43.74, and continued on well to defeat fast-closing Undrafted by three-quarters of a length.

Something Extra held well for third, while Good Deed and Buster Rose finished in a dead heat for fourth.

"I was very proud of the way he ran today," Leparoux said. "He was comfortable on this course and when we were challenged down the stretch, he responded nicely when I asked him for run."

"He was on his game today," Lynch said. "He got the track he likes today. He was sharp this week. We trained him (at Keeneland) this week and he was very sharp. The way the track was playing today, I thought he'd have to be close (to the lead)."

Power Alert paid $12.40, $5.80, and $4.20 across the board. Undrafted returned $5.60 and $3.60, while Something Extra paid $3.80.

Power Alert, who now has seven wins in 17 starts, in 2014 raced in handicap turf sprints in Australia with some success, but has stepped it up since his arrival in the United States. He won his U.S. debut in December at Gulfstream Park in a five-furlong allowance race on the grass, and returned to win the Silks Run Stakes at the same distance at Gulfstream.

In his start before the Twin Spires, Power Alert finished an even fourth in the Shakertown Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland on a course rated good. That race was won by Something Extra, with Undrafted third.