Coming into the $59,875 Kentucky Cup Turf Dash off of two stakes winning performances in track record time no less, one would think Thomas D Shank and Stan Young’s Good Lord would have received more respect at the mutual windows than what was reflected by the Florida-bred’s 6-1 odds. But there he was as the fourth choice in the field of nine when they went to the post at Kentucky Downs located in Franklin, Ky.
Ridden by Gabriel Saez from the inside post, Good Lord broke well but fell back to sixth place, but only two lengths off of the front-running tandem of Will’s Wildcat and Noble’s Promise. After a first quarter in a pedestrian :24.11, Saez began to move Good Lord around the far turn and at the top of the stretch, split horses and found himself in a battle for the lead with Icon Ike, who had passed the tiring leaders while racing four wide. Those two battled down the lane with Good Lord edging clear late to win by two and one-quarter lengths ahead of Icon Ike in second and Will’s Wildcat in third. Favored Noble’s Promise was fourth. The final time for the six furlongs was 1:18.58.
Bred in Florida by Marilyn Fazo Seltzer of Golden Beach, Good Lord is by Greatness, who stands at Stonewall Farm Ocala. The 5-year-old gelding now has seven wins from 42 career races and the $29,063 check for winning the Turf Dash increased his career bankroll to $328,823.
Good Lord returned $14.00 to those who had supported him with $2 win tickets, $7.60 to place and $4.20 to show. Icon Ike paid $6.20 and $3.80 while Will’s Wildcat returned $4.00 to show.
Good Lord had set his two track records while winning the $100,000 Wild And Wonderful Stakes at Charles Town Race Course in W.V., when he stopped the clock in 1:22.69 for seven furlongs; and in the $50,000 Don Bernhardt Stakes at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky., when going six and one-half furlongs in 1:14.46.
Photo by Kentucky Downs
