BATTLE OF HASTINGS (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) was content to allow Straight
Story (Giant’s Causeway) and Al Khali (Medaglia d’Oro) to lead the way through the
opening six furlongs of Saturday’s $500,000
Colonial Turf Cup (G2), grabbed the advantage while running on the rail in
the stretch and then dug in to record a head victory in the 1 3/16-mile grass
test.
Straight Story pulled his way to the front at the start, registered an
opening quarter in :25, but Al Khali slipped through on the inside to take over
through a half in :49 2/5. That one ran six furlongs in 1:13 2/5 while
maintaining the lead, but Straight Story and Take the Points (Even the Score)
were drafting just in behind and to his outside. Heading into the turn, Al Khali
blew the turn and took Straight Story with him, leaving the way clear on the
inside for the rest of the field to make up ground.
Take the Points began his run down the center of the lane, but Battle of
Hastings was just winding up on the inside. With Tyler Baze in the saddle, the
Jeff Mullins pupil blew through to a clear lead and appeared well on his way to
victory. Straight Story had recovered by this point, though, and Take the Points
was rebreaking on the outside. Battle of Hastings had to dig deep to withstand
those challenges and a new one from Lime Rickey (Lemon Drop Kid), who closed
with a rush while splitting horses late. The bay gelding did just that, stopping
the clock over the firm Colonial Downs green in 1:57 3/5.
Battle of Hastings was sent off the 5-2 favorite against his eight rivals
following a rallying second in the American Turf S. (G3) last out. The sophomore
rewarded his faithful supporters with payouts of $7.40, $4 and $3.40 while
keying the $65.20 exacta. Straight Story overcame his bad racing luck to take
second by 1 1/4 lengths, returning $9 and $5.40 as the 8-1 sixth pick. Lime
Rickey got his head in front of Take the Points to grab the show spot, giving
back $3.40 as the 4-1 second choice and ending the $179.60 trifecta. Take the
Points rounded out the 8-4-10-5 superfecta that was worth $965.40, and was
followed under the wire by Al Khali, Rescue Squad (Dynaformer), Mark S the
Cooler (Johar), Final Count (Smart Strike) and Winning Vow (Broken Vow). Dover
Street Art (Ire) (Alhaarth) was scratched.
Battle of Hastings began his career in England, breaking his maiden in a
seven-furlong allowance at Newmarket last August. He added another allowance
score to his record, this time at Doncaster in September, then was shipped
stateside and made his U.S. debut in the November 29 Generous S. (G3) at
Hollywood Park. The bay could do no better than seventh in that one-mile turf
test and was given the rest of the year off. He made his return to competition,
and 2009 bow, in the Baldwin S. (G3) on March 1, posting a 1 1/4-length score. A
win in the La Puente S. followed and he just missed by three parts of a length
in the American Turf prior to this one, which improved his record to 10-5-1-0,
$474,592.
Bred in Great Britain by Myriad Communications and New England Stud, Battle
of Hastings is out of multiple listed winner and Group 3-placed Subya (Night
Shift), who has also produced multiple stakes victress Villa Carlotta (Rainbow
Quest), the listed-placed Subyan Dreams (Spectrum) and an unraced juvenile
filly named Fame is the Spur (Motivator). This female family also includes Group
2 scorers Wi Dud (Elnadim) and Tariq (Kyllachy), 1968 champion two-year-old colt
Top Knight (Vertex) and multiple Irish champion and classic winner Law Society
(Alleged).