Hastings wins the Battle of Colonial

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).