KING CONGIE (Badge of Silver), the 4-1 second choice on the morning-line for
Saturday’s Spiral S. (G3) at Turfway Park, will be withdrawn from that
nine-furlong test after suffering a hind leg strain during a gallop Friday
morning, according to a report in the Daily Racing Form.
Trained by Tom Albertrani, the dark bay colt has finished first in his past
three races, all on turf, but was disqualified in the Hallandale Beach S. most
recently after interfering down the stretch with Brilliant Speed (Dynaformer),
who ran third another neck back. Ironically, both King Congie and Brilliant
Speed are trained by Albertrani.
King Congie made his three-year-old bow a half-length victory in the Tropical
Park Derby on New Year’s Day at Calder, and would have been trying the synthetic
Polytrack for the first time in the Spiral. His career record currently reads
5-2-0-1, $99,290.
The Spiral field is now left with 11 runners, topped by 3-1 morning-line
favorite Positive Response (Pomeroy), who captured the John Battaglia Memorial
over the track by seven lengths last out. The Bill Morey pupil was third in the
El Camino Real Derby (G3) and won the California Derby in his two races prior to
the Battaglia.