Florence, KY (SportsNetwork.com) – Dubai Sky, leaving from the far outside
post, swept to victory as he made his first start on a main track in
Saturday’s $550,000 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park.
The 1 1/8-mile Spiral is an important race on the road to the Kentucky
Derby. Animal Kingdom won the stakes in 2011 as a final prep before winning
the Run for the Roses.
Trainer Bill Mott saddled Dubai Sky for this year’s edition of the Spiral with
Jose Lezcano in the saddle. The colt went off at 7-1 in the 11-horse field of
3-year-olds with El Camino Real winner Metaboss the 9-5 favorite and local
stakes winner Royal Son at 5-2.
Setting the pace was 28-1 longshot Watchyourownbobber with 9-1 Wireless Future
to the outside and Royal Son also prompting the pace. Dubai Sky, after racing
on the turf in his first four starts, stalked the leaders in fourth from the
middle of the track.
Dubai Sky moved four wide around the final turn and took the lead entering the
stretch. He pulled away down the stretch and posted a 2 1/4-length win over
4-1 third pick Conquest Typhoon with 37-1 longshot Firespike right behind in
third.
Completing the order finish were Task Force Glory, Royal Son, Metaboss,
Wireless Future, Another Lemon Drop, Magic of Believing, Big Family and
Watchyourownbobber. Imperia, 4-1 in the program, was an early scratch.
The time for the Spiral was 1:50.26 on Turfway’s synthetic main track.
Dubai Sky, owned by Three Chimneys Farm and Besilu Stables, made it three
straight wins and two consecutive stakes victories with the 44th Spiral
Stakes. The win was worth $313,500 to bring the colt’s earnings to $439,080 in
five starts. The win was also worth 50 points toward a place in this year’s
Kentucky Derby.
Dubai Sky was coming off his winning 2015 debut in Gulfstream Park’s Kitten’s
Joy Stakes on the grass in January. After finishing third in his career debut
last August at Saratoga, the colt broke his maiden at Belmont Park in
September followed two months later with another turf victory.
Dubai Sky paid $16.80, $7.40 and $6.00. Conquest Typhoon returned $5.40 and
$3.60, and Firespike paid $11.80 to show.
