D. J. Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and Kenneth Freirich’s Ewing kept a perfect 2-for-2 record intact while besting graded stakes winner Obliteration by one length in the August 2 Saratoga Special (G2) for 2-year-olds at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, the Knicks Go colt entered the 6 1/2-furlong sprint from an eye-opening 12-length debut romp on July 5 at the Spa. Prior to selling with Hidden Brook at OBS April three months before his debut, Ewing was foaled and raised at Hidden Brook Kentucky for breeder John Gardiner. He was also prepared for his OBS date at Hidden Brook Florida.
With returning rider Jose Ortiz up, Ewing broke a step slow and veered in at the start from the inside post while the sharp-starting favorite Obliteration caught a flyer from the gate. Nevertheless, Ortiz and Ewing hustled up the rail and showed the way through splits of 22.26 seconds and 45.41 over the fast main track, angling wide off the turn as Obliteration struggled to corner. Ortiz straightened away Ewing and powered through the wire in a final time of 1:18.03.
“We’re really pleased with his performance. He broke a step slow and that was a good horse he beat,” Casse assistant Shane Tripp said. “It was good race riding and exciting to see. What a day to display him. We’re excited for the connections.”
And Saturday was definitely an exciting day to showcase both Ewing and horse racing with the 13-race card generating a Whitney Day record handle of $49,651,341.
Tripp said that Ewing, who Casse indicated will stretch out in the Iroquois (G3) going one mile in September at Churchill Downs, exited the Saratoga Special in good order.
“He came back great,” Tripp said. “We’re excited about him. He ate everything last night and jogged good on the road.
“The way he gets across the ground, I think he’ll relish stretching out and not having to rush him off his feet in these short races,” Tripp added. “I think you’ll see the best of him when he starts going longer.”
-edited from www.paulickreport.com
