Close the Road game hands Skelly a rare defeat on June 1 when he took out the free-wheeling front runner to win by a length in the $275,000 Aristides Stakes at Churchill Downs.
When the gate opens, the start is different than expected as the often agile Skelly breaks his leg. Gelding competition continues to draw jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. forward in the middle of the pack while Closethegame Sugar benefited from an off-pace trip under Irad Ortiz Jr.
Skelly showed no signs of stopping as the field turned home despite early claiming of :21.73 and :44.19, opening up a two-way advantage at the eighth pole. Ortiz encouraged Closethegame Sugar to run wide to the middle of the track, and the pair relentlessly pressed the 1-4 to catch Skelly from the ropes.
The final six furlongs were timed in a sharp 1:08.39 on the fast main track.
Tejano twist completed the trilogy.
Closethegame Sugar ($38.92), field bet winner at Saratoga Race Course and bets on aggregate at Presque Isle Downs, scoring the first career win for owners Adam Rice and Sugar Diaz. Rice, who also coaches Closethegame Sugar, chose Girvin gelding for $10,000 at the Keeneland September 2021 Yearling Sale.
“Last time he had a pretty long break from work at Churchill to run an allowance race during Derby week,” Rice said. “I thought he might need that race and today he came back really strong. Irad (Ortiz Jr.) gave him a great run and was the difference-maker. Last year We won the bet on the field but today he showed a different side on the ground that was very impressive.”
Videotapes: Aristides S. (BT)
Cugino was not caught in the Audubon Stakes
This story will be updated.
