The Scherr Boys’ Necker Island , who finished ninth in last year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), narrowly prevailed in a three-horse photo finish in the $300,000 Bet on Sunshine Stakes Nov. 6 at Churchill Downs to earn his first stakes rating. The 4-year-old Arduous Spun colt beat Mucho by a head with Sir Alfred James another neck back in third.
Ridden by Mitchell Murrill for trainer Chris Hartman, Necker Island ran six furlongs in 1:09.22 over a fast track to give the jockey and conditioner their third win together on the 11-race program.
“We have been working to getting this horse again to sprints. I knew he was sharp sufficient to run an enormous effort at the moment,” Hartman stated. “Mitch gave him an distinctive experience and he actually confirmed a fantastic effort.”
Necker Island has confirmed fruitful for proprietor Wayne Scherr, who with different companions claimed the chestnut for $100,000 June 13, 2020, at Churchill. In his very subsequent begin, Necker Island was third within the Indiana Derby (G3) and adopted up with one other third within the Runhappy Ellis Park Derby earlier than racing within the Kentucky Derby.
Saturday, Sir Alfred James and Rough Entry battled for the early lead in the field of eight through a first quarter-mile in :21.66 as Necker Island raced in fifth along the inside. Necker Island had to check in entering the turn as Sir Alfred James and Mucho left the turn vying for the lead in :45.01. He continued to race along the rail, wore down those rivals, and got up at the wire.
“I noticed there was a whole lot of pace on this race so I needed to let my horse settle,” Murrill stated. “He settled very nicely up the bottom and I had a whole lot of horse turning for residence. I am actually happy with his effort and the Hartman staff did a fantastic job getting him prepared.”
Necker Island returned $9.40 for a $2 win ticket Saturday. Behind Mucho and Sir Alfred James, Bango, Lengthy Weekend, and Atoka accomplished the order of end.
The race was spoiled by an incident on the flip when Vertical Threat , ridden by Adam Beschizza, and Rough Entry, with Brian Hernandez Jr. up, fell. Both jockeys walked to the onsite ambulance and were examined onsite by EMTs. Rough Entry was corralled by the outriders and, according to the Equibase chart, walked off. Vertical Threat was vanned off.
The Bet on Sunshine was Necker Island’s third win in seven starts this year. Overall, he holds a record of 5-1-4 in 18 starts and has earned $565,532.
Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Necker Island is out of the Mr. Greeley mare Jenny’s Rocket. The mare delivered her sixth foal this year, a Ghostzapper colt, and was bred to Justify for 2022.
Video: Bet on Sunshine S. (BT)
