Island Town Goes Gate to Wire in Matt Winn
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Throughout the Triple Crown, trainer Bob Baffert always said how important the break was for American Pharoah, who didn’t miss a beat when sweeping the Triple Crown.
In the $100,000 Matt Winn Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs June 13, Baffert’s Fame and Power missed the break, costing him the race as the colt finished second as the 1-2 favorite.
For Island Town, the break went smoothly, as he jumped to the front under Julien Leparoux, setting the pace while being pressed by longshot Private Prospect through a first quarter in :24.73 and a half-mile in :48.92.
Fame and Power was shuffled back to last after the slow start and raced rank while trying to advance through the seven-horse field under jockey Victor Espinoza.
As they turned for home, Espinoza tipped Fame and Power off the rail to engage Island Town and Private Prospect, putting his head in front only to see Island Town come back to record the biggest win of his career by a half-length .
Fame and Power did last for second over Private Prospect, but first had to survive a claim of foul from jockey Channing Hill aboard Private Prospect.
There was some bumping among the top three finishers, but the stewards let the result stand.
Island Town returned $13.60, $3.80, and $3.40 after running the 1 1/16 miles over Churchill’s fast main track in 1:43.46.
Fame and Power returned $2.40 and $2.20, while Private Prospect paid $6 to show.
Island Town was bred in Kentucky by Randy Bloch et al., and is by Hard Spun out of Humorous Gal, by Distorted Humor .
Owned by Six Column Stables, Randall Bloch, John Seiler, and David Hall, Island Town has won three of six starts and earned $133,440.
Island Town dropped the first two starts of his career before breaking his maiden Oct. 26 at Churchill.
He finished sixth in his 3-year-old debut before taking an allowance/optional claiming race at Churchill May 2.
Bold Conquest got up to finish fourth and was followed by Henry Jones, Nileator, and Phenomenal Phoenix.