Edmund Gann’s IT’S A BIRD (Birdonthewire) was the heaviest of favorites in
Monday’s $400,000
Lone Star
Park H. (G3), and while he ultimately did not disappoint, there were more
than a few anxious moments during the final two furlongs as he struggled to get
by a resolute Jonesboro (Sefapiano) until the final jumps. That he did, however,
and the 1-2 choice reward his legion of backers with $3, $2.60 and $2.10 with a
head victory under Julien Leparoux.
King Dan (Include) broke on top with Jonesboro and It’s a Bird settling just
in behind the leader, who set splits of :23 1/5 and :47. Pressure was applied
approaching the three-quarter mile mark, as King Dan held just a head advantage
over Jonesboro in 1:11 1/5 with It’s a Bird another head behind that one. At the
top of the stretch, it became a two-horse race as It’s a Bird poked his head in
front outside of Jonesboro, with King Dan weakening along the inside. Jonesboro
appeared to rally along the inside to draw even, if not take a brief advantage,
but It’s a Bird came on again at the right time to deny the 9-1 Jonesboro, the
Texas Mile (G3) victor, a repeat win over the Lone Star strip. The final time
for 1 1/16 miles on the fast track was 1:41 4/5.
Jonesboro gave back $5.20 and $3 and completed the $17.40. Turning in a
strong outside rally for third was the 9-1 chance Song of Navarone (Sultry
Song), who finished only a half-length in back of Jonesboro for the place. Song
of Navarone gave back $3.40 and capped the $67.80 trifecta. King Dan was another
2 1/2 lengths adrift in fourth and, at 29-1, boosted the 7-9-4-6 superfecta to a
payoff of $354.20. Encaustic (Broad Brush) finished fifth and was followed by
Magnum (Arg) (El Compinche), Z Fortune (Siphon [Brz]), Stungbythestorm
(Vindication) and Up Stream (Open Forum).
Winning trainer Marty Wolfson acquired It’s a Bird last summer from Todd
Pletcher and has now won five stakes with the six-year-old Florida-bred,
including the Spend a Buck H. (G3) at Calder, the Sunshine Millions Classic over
a graded quality field at Gulfstream Park, and the Oaklawn H. (G2) last out.
It’s a Bird also owns placings in the Kenny Noe Jr. H. (G3) and New Orleans H.
(G2). With this triumph his record improved to 30-11-4-2, $1,412,885.
Bred by White Cross Farm, It’s a Bird is out of stakes winner Faithful City (Hooched)
and has an unraced juvenile half-brother named Road to Babylon (Concorde’s
Tune). This is the same family as Grade 2 winner How’s Your Halo (Halo’s Image)
and multiple Grade 3-placed stakes victor Gold I. D. (Caller I. D.).