Tour Player hit the front in the Knicks Go and didn’t look back, Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire
Churchill Downs Press
LOUISVILLE, KY – Graham Grace Stables’ Tour Player took over from pacesetting Scotland at the head of the stretch and cruised to a 2 1/2-length win in the fifth running of the $200,000 Knicks Go Overnight Stakes (L) presented by L&N Federal Credit Union for 4-year-olds and up Saturday afternoon.
Trained by Whit Beckman and ridden by Flavien Prat, Tour Player completed the mile over a fast main track in a stakes-record 1:33.97.
Scotland led the field through fractions of :22.75 and :45.40 with Tour Player in closest pursuit. Tour Player began to close in on the turn, drew even entering the stretch and drew off.
Tour Player is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of American Pharoah out of the Ghostzapper mare Inshannity. Now a two-time stakes winner, Tour Player improved his record to 12-6-0-1 and with Saturday’s $119,280 check increased his earnings to $421,107.
Tour Player returned $8.70, $4.62 and $3. Moonlight rallied from last to get second under Jose Ortiz and return $7.06 and $3.90 with Dragoon Guard finishing a neck back in third and returning $2.64 to show under Irad Ortiz Jr.
It was a half-length back to Will Take It with Be You, Capital Idea, Prince of Power, Banjo Chris and Scotland following in order.
KNICKS GO QUOTES
Flavien Prat (Jockey, Tour Player, winner) – “He got himself into a good position and I was able to get him off the fence and into the clear. When we turned for home, he gave me a really strong turn of foot and opened up on the field.”
Whit Beckman (Trainer, Tour Player, winner) – It’s always special to get a win on Derby Day, let alone a stakes race. Flavien (Prat) gave him a perfect ride. He really responded to him when asked and loves it here at Churchill.
Jose Ortiz (Jockey, Moonlight, second) – “I am really happy to see him back in form. The last two starts have been very disappointing. I was in a good position early on and the early pace set things up for me. If there was more pressure up front, maybe I could have won but the mile is a good distance for him.”
