LEXINGTON, KY (April 28, 2022) – Randal Family Trust’s homebred Novel Squall battled with Music City Star before drawing clear in midstretch to win Thursday’s featured $130,000 Upson Downs Farm Purse by 9½ lengths.(Click here for a video of the race.)
Trained by John Ortiz and ridden by Reylu Gutierrez, Novel Squall covered 6½ furlongs on a fast track in 1:16.38.
The victory was worth $80,600 to Novel Squall, a 4-year-old filly by Violence out of Goodness Gray, by Pulpit. A graduate of Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale, she has won five races in 14 career starts and earned $318,648.
Novel Squall, the 8-5 favorite, paid $5.40 and $2.80. Music City Star, ridden by Mitchell Murrill, returned $3.40. There was no show wagering.
Union Maiden was third and was followed by Thundering Creed.
Friday is the final day of Keeneland’s Spring Meet with the first race at 12:30 p.m. The featured Bewitch (G3) is the eighth race with a 4:07 p.m. post time. Post time for the 10th and final race is 5:09 p.m.
Closing-day action will move to the Keeneland Sales Pavilion for the April Horses of Racing Age Sale, which begins around 6:30 p.m. Click here for more information.
Keeneland Press Release
Photo: Novel Squall (Coady Photo)
