Published:
November 15, 2008 08:05 pm EST
Top Prize converted from the perfect pocket-trip to win the $20,000 Spartacus Claiming Series Final on Saturday at Fraser Downs.
Pulling off an 11-1 upset, the eight-year-old gelded son of Ever So Rich settled in second behind Schmokin Shannon A (Mike Hennessy) through fractions of :26.3, :56.1 and 1:24.4. At the top of the stretch, Top Prize and trainer/driver Scott Knight popped the pocket and used a :29.4 final quarter effort to snatch the top prize in 1:54.4 by over two lengths.
Inspired Art (Darren Howald) closed well for second while the pacesetter faded to third.
Top Prize notched his 34th career win and lifted his bankroll to $165,931 for owner Richard Michael of Barstow, California.
To view Saturday’s results, click here.
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It was a great race to watch
It was a great race to watch and a frustrating one to lose, but as an owner, it is one of those situations where you know that all of the principals did their job well...Tom Miller did a fantastic job getting Shannon ready for the race...Mike Hennessey (who agreed to fly out from Edmonton just for this one race) was superb as usual and gave Shannon every chance to win...and finally, Schmokin Shannon raced his heart out...the two horses that got the perfect trips behind him, edged him out at the wire, but as all great athletes do, he left his entire game out on the field...
My congratulations to Scott Knight and his connections. Scott is showing everyone what a great horseman he is, and a more consummate professional you will not find.
At the end of the day I am excited about adding Shannon to our stable and I know that Tom will be able to campaign him successfully at Fraser Downs. Also, I claimed Shannon from Mike Hennessey prior to the final, and absolute kudos to Mike for being so incredibly professional and helpful to us, even after losing the horse. Claiming horses is a business. It isn't anything personal via one owner to another. Mike Hennessey showed a ton of his character by acting the way he did, and in the process added a friend and business partner.