Soup Powers Speechify to Kenny Noe Triumph

Speechify may not eat like other horses, but he proved he can run with them, romping to victory in his stakes debut Nov. 16 at Gulfstream Park West in the $75,000 Kenny Noe Jr. 

Afflicted with a restriction in his esophagus that necessitates trainer Ralph Nicks to limit his diet to "soup," Speechify won the six-furlong main track race by 3 3/4 lengths while timed in 1:10.52 at the former Calder Race Course. Team Valor International's 4-year-old colt has also overcome injuries sustained in both of his front legs.



"It's hard to believe," Team Valor CEO Barry Irwin said. "He's an amazing horse. Even though he doesn't eat like normal horses. He's an amazing looking horse health-wise. So this a real thrill. Ralph, obviously, has done an amazing job with this horse."



Speechify broke sharply from the gate under jockey Paco Lopez to closely stalk the pace set by Mongolian Saturday along the backstretch. The son of Harlan's Holiday moved to the lead midway on the far turn and showed the way into the homestretch. After fighting off a challenge by 2-1 favorite Risk Factor in upper stretch, Speechify drew off to a clear victory ahead of a late-running Grande Shores and jockey Edgard Zayas.



Mongolian Saturday held on for third money under Carlos Marquez Jr., a length behind Grande Shores. Risk Factor, who experienced early trouble under Edgar Prado, tired to fourth.



"Ralph told me to place him where I wanted. He broke fast and I had a lot of horse all the way," said Lopez, whose mount was sent to the starting gate as the 3-1 second choice in a field of eight.

The winner paid $8.80, $5.40, and $4.40, topping a $51.20 exacta with Grande Shores, who returned $4.40 and $3.20. Mongolian Saturday paid $5.



Speechify won three of his first five starts before going on the shelf in late January. The Kentucky-bred colt returned to action Oct. 25 in the Gin Rummy Champ Stakes, his turf debut in the five-furlong dash at Gulfstream Park West. He dropped back to last before making a belated run to finish eighth, just 2 1/4 lengths behind the victorious Mellow Fellow.



Speechify came back in the Noe off a three-week break, which was not the original plan.



"It was by design for this race only because he didn't do much in his last race," Nicks said. "I think he was just a little confused the first start off the layoff. I'm not saying he won't run on turf again, because he's breezed good on it and he would have won the other day in four or five more jumps anyway."



Speechify will be pointed to stakes races during the upcoming Gulfstream Park meet.



"He's awesome. It's a shame he has the restriction in his throat, because he could be something special," Nicks said.