Power Alert (AUS) Holds Off Undrafted to Take Twin Spires Turf Sprint Presented by TwinSpires.com

May 01, 2015

James Covello, AJ Suited Racing Stable and trainer Brian Lynch’s Power Alert (AUS)  took the lead shortly after the start and then held off a late bid from Undrafted to win 21^strunning of the $150,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint (GIII) Presented by Twinspires.com by three-quarters of a length.

        Trained by Brian Lynch and ridden by Julien Leparoux, Power Alert covered the five furlongs on a fast Matt Winn Turf Course in a course-record time :55.17.

The previous record was :55.45 established by Silver Timber in this race in 2010. It was a record third victory in the race for Leparoux.

        Heitai was first out of the gate, but was soon joined and passed by Power Alert and Something Extra. Power Alert maintained a narrow advantage until disposing of Something Extra in midstretch and having enough to hold off Undrafted.

Power Alert is a 5-year-old son of Alert (ARG) out of the Lochrae (AUS) mare Gold Locket (AUS). The victory was worth $84,630 and improved his earnings to $268,374 with a record of 17-7-2-1.

        Power Alert returned $12.40, $5.80 and $4.20. Undrafted, ridden by John Velazquez, returned $5.60 and $3.60 with Something Extra finishing another three-quarters of a length back in third and paying $3.80 to show under Shaun Bridgmohan.

        Favored Good Deed and Buster Rose finished in a dead heat for fourth another 1 ¾ lengths back and were followed in order by Channel Marker, Forest Elf, Heitai, Positive Side and Jasizzle.

TWIN SPIRES TURF SPRINT PRESENTED BY TWINSPIRES.COM QUOTES

JULIEN LEPAROUX, jockey of POWER ALERT (winner) – “I was very proud of the way he ran today. He was comfortable on this course and when we were challenged down the stretch, he responded nicely when I asked him for run.”

BRIAN LYNCH, trainer of POWER ALERT (winner) — “He was on his game today. He got the track he likes today. I thought it would be easier on him in the Shakertown (fourth-place finish) on the soft turf at Keeneland last time, but he turned it around 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). We have the race at Evangeline for $300,000 (June 21) or wait until the Belmont race for $200,000 on Belmont Day at six furlongs on the turf.”

JOHN VELAZQUEZ, jockey of UNDRAFTED (second) — “He broke so good and he’s breaking a lot better. That sixteenth of a mile we just needed; five and half to six or seven [furlongs] he beats them easy. He runs really well [at this distance], but that little sixteenth of a mile would help him a lot better.'

SHAUN BRIDGMOHAN, jockey of SOMETHING EXTRA (third) – “He’s a nice horse and gives you everything he has. I just chased the winner as he ran great. My horse ran well and never quit trying.”

BRIAN HERNANDEZ, JR., jockey of GOOD DEED (dead-heat fourth, beaten favorite) — 'She kind of got a little upset in there for some reason, and kind of broke a little slow. We had a great trip. We got over. When we turned for home, we got outside in the clear. I guess she just couldn't overcome the break, more than anything. And first time against the boys, it's a big step up.'

STEVE MARGOLIS, trainer of GOOD DEED (dead-heat fourth, beaten favorite) — 'Sometimes it's harder in these five-furlong races. You give them a lot to do. She had a good tracking trip, it looks like. She had every chance. … It's almost like, maybe 5 1/2 (furlongs), maybe as she gets older, is a little easier on her.'