Cash Control Makes Grade in Mint Julep

Cash Control slipped through an opening along the rail at the head of the stretch, grabbed the lead at the three-sixteenths pole, and narrowly held on to beat stablemate Sweet Acclaim by a head in the $100,000 Old Forester Mint Julep Handicap (gr. III) June 11 at Churchill Downs. 

 

Trained by Brad Cox for owners Richard and Bertram Klein's, Cash Control covered 1 1/16 miles on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:41.12 while toting 118 pounds, including Shaun Bridgmohan.

The Kleins won the race for the second time in four years. Their 4-year-old filly Miz Ida was victorious in the 2013 running.

Defending winner Kiss Moon set the pace with a first quarter-mile in :23.57, a half-mile in :46.92, and three-quarters of a mile in 1:11.33 as Cash Control tracked along the inside about 4 1/2 lengths behind in fourth. 

Zipessa grabbed the lead at the head of the stretch but an opening developed along the inside hedge and Cash Control darted through to draw even. She grabbed the lead after a long drive down the stretch and was able to withstand a late rally by Sweet Acclaim, who just missed in a photo finish that was determined by the bob of a head.

 

"I was very proud of both of them and honestly the way they had been training we had kind of expected it," Cox said of the winner and runner-up. "They both had been training as well as mares could train and they both showed up and ran great races."

 

The victory, the second stakes victory for Cash Control this year, was worth $58,900 and increased her earnings to $343,600. Her record of 8-2-2 from 15 starts includes the Daisy Devine Stakes in February and 2015 Tiffany Lass Stakes,both at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Most recently, she was third beaten 4 1/2 lengths by reigning champion turf female Tepin in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (gr. II) on Kentucky Derby Day.

 

Cash Control is a 5-year-old daughter of Pioneerof the Nile out of the Mt. Livermore mare Hidden Assets and was bred in Kentucky by her owners.

           

Cash Control rewarded her backers with payoffs of $6.80, $3.40 and $2.80 as the 2-1 second betting choice in the field of 10 fillies and mares. Sweet Acclaim returned $3.80 and $3.20 and Zipessa paid $3.80 to show.

           

Josdesanimaux, Personal Diary,Flying Tipat, Southern Gem, Sistas Stroll, Kiss Moon, and Mizz Money completed the order of finish.