EXTRAVAGANT KID

Adds Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint to Long Resume

BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Florida-bred Extravagant Kid added a major note to his legacy in his 50th career start as the 8-year-old gelding won the US$1 million Al Quoz Sprint sponsored by Azizi Developments (Group 1) March 27 at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

The Al Quoz Sprint featured an international field of 13 3-yearolds and older who went a straight 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) on the turf.

The 3-2 post time favorite for the Al Quoz was Space Blues (Ire), winner of the 1351 Sprint at King Abdulazziz Racecourse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Feb. 20 while Extravagant Kid was let go at a generous 15-1. Also getting plenty of support from the wagering public was 5-1 second choice Khaadem (Ire), who is trained by Charles Hills for Shadwell Estate Co., Ltd., and had won the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket on July 11 in his last start; and Equilateral (GB), owned by Mrs. Fitri Hay and trained by Charles Hills, who won the Group 2 Meydan Sprint at Meydan on Feb. 18 in his previous start. Trained by Brendan Walsh for North Virginia-based real estate agent David Ross in the name of his DARRS Inc. and ridden for the first time by Ryan Moore, Extravagant Kid was coming off of a disappointing secondplace finish to Just Might after a troubled start in the $100,000 Colonel Power Stakes, which was taken off the turf and run at five-and-a-half furlongs on the main track at Fair Grounds on Feb. 13.

Donning the number two saddle towel but breaking from post eight in the Al Quoz, Extravagant Kid broke well and was taken to the inside group by jockey Ryan Moore as Equilateral and Man of Promise took the early lead while racing in the group on the grandstand side.

With just more than 800 meters to run, however, Moore and several other riders, including William Buick on Space Blues, sent their mounts to the far right to join early leaders Equilateral and Man of Promise, who were leading the group of four runners on the outside part of the course.

Passing the 700 meter marker, Equilateral led Man of Promise by a length-and-a-half as Extravagant Kid raced in sixth, about six lengths off the leader while just to the outside of Space Blues. Meanwhile jockey Rowan Scott and Acklam Express (Ire) stayed with the inside group but far off the pace in tenth.

With 300 meters to the finish, Equilateral continued to show the way on the far outside with Man of Promise to his right in second when Extravagant Kid and Final Song (Ire) began to make up ground while pulling away from an unresponsive Space Blues. Meanwhile Acklam Express was also making a bid for the lead while leaving the inside group but Extravagant Kid was too much the best, crossing the wire a half-length faster than Final Song (Ire) in second with Acklam Express third.

Equilateral was fourth followed by Motafaawit (Ire), True Valor, Royal Crusade (GB), Man of Promise, Space Blues, Cowan, Speak in Colours (GB), Moss Gill (Ire) and Khaadem.

The final time on the firm turf was 1:09.26 and they finished the final 400 meters in :21.78.

“It was a very messy race,” Moore said. “The speed looked like it was to be stands’ side but we had to make a decision. Space Blues and Khaadem were going, they were the best horses and gave me a bit of a tow. The horse ran a super race at Keeneland [when fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) won by Glass Slippers (GB) at Keeneland Nov. 7]. He is a very talented horse. You’ll have to watch out for Brendan [Walsh] when he comes back here.”

Since the Breeders’ Cup, Extravagant Kid has remained busy but has had trouble breaking out of a second-place slump. He finished second to fellow Florida-bred Imprimis in his fourth time running in the the $75,000 Janus Stakes on Jan 1 before he finished second to Cajun Brother in the Sunshine Sprint on Jan. 16, both at Gulfstream Park. He became a millionaire when second in the Colonel Power.

By Kiss the Kid out of Pretty Extravagant, by With Distinction, Extravagant Kid was bred in Florida by Frank Vicino in the name of

to be put in a position where he had Kennedy Road Stakes (G2), both at Wooda shot,” Ross said. “Going around bine. He was also second to Leinster in the these turns at the U.S. facilities, I Grade 2 Woodford Stakes presented by TVG think gave him a habit of sort of at Keeneland in October and second to Diaslowing down at the finish line. I will mond Oops in the Grade 2 TwinSpires Turf say that Ryan [Moore] did a phe- Sprint presented by Sysco at Churchill Downs nomenal job with the horse and on Sept. 4. In 2019. Extravagant Kid also finBrendan [Walsh] of course put him ished as a bridesmaid to Wet Your Whistle in in a great position. And he’s an 8- the Grade 1 Highlander at Woodbine in 2019. year-old. You’d think he was running He now has a career record of 15 wins in out of gas but he just continues to 50 starts with 16 seconds and six thirds with move forward. earnings of $1,581,610. He jumped from “We thought we had a chance. We being ranked as the 175th all-time richest Trophy Presentation ■ Dubai Racing Club Photo think in any race we enter our horses Florida-bred to No. 63 on the earnings leaderthe Vicino Racing Stable. Vicino raced Ex- in we have a good chance. But training the board and is now just behind Sultry Song travagant Kid through his first 23 starts but horse and getting the horse ready to have a ($1,616,276) whle passing Revved Up lost him when Walsh and DAARS Inc. chance is a whole other program. I just can’t (1,548,653). Skip Away leads all Floridaclaimed him for $75,000 out of a third condi- say enough good things about [Brendan breds in earnings with $9,616,360. tion optional claiming allowance victory at Walsh and his staff]. Other Florida-bred winners on a Dubai Gulfstream Park in January of 2018. “[This race] tops all. We’ve been in the World Cup card include Silver Charm, win-

Vicino, who was in the hospital in Miami Breeders’ Cup and we’ve placed in the Breed- ner of the 1998 Dubai World Cup; Benny the when Extravagant Kid won the Al Quoz, was ers’ Cup but we’ve never won the Breeders’ Bull (2008 Golden Shaheen), and X Y Jet elated with the news according his wife Rose- Cup. But I will say that this might be better (2017 Golden Shaheen). mary Vicino. “[Frank] just called me from the hospital,” Rosemary Vicino said. “Of course he wasn’t “It was a very messy race. The speed looked like it was to be stands’ side but we had to make a decision. happy to be there but he was so Space Blues and Khaadem were going, they were the happy Extravagant Kid won that race. That was quite something. best horses and gave me a bit of a tow.” –Ryan Moore

“I was really upset that we lost him because our trainer said that we’d than a Breeders’ Cup.” never lose him and that they would never pay With the Al Quoz Sprint, Extravagant Kid $75,000 for him. But with us, he never would has now won eight career stakes at six differhave gone to Dubai. He never would have ent tracks while racing in three countries. He gone to [Woodbine, Churchill, Keeneland, won the Tamiami and Green Parrot Handicap Saratoga, Louisiana, etc.] There are so many at Gulfstream Park in 2017 for Vicino and opportunities that [DARRS Inc.] gave him. while carrying the red colors of DAARS Inc. We don’t have that lifestyle. We have children from the Walsh barn, Extravagant Kid has and we have grandchildren so our lifestyle is taken the 2018 Lucky Coin Stakes at different. Saratoga, the 2019 Zaxby’s Sprint Stakes on

“We are just so happy for the horse and the Florida Cup Day at Tampa Bay Downs, the owners.” 2019 Mighty Beau Overnight Stakes at

Ross was in Dubai for the race and was Churchill, the 2019 Da Hoss Stakes at Coloquick to credit Brendan Walsh with preparing nial Downs and the 2019 Janus and 2020 Extravagant Kid for the Al Quoz and choos- Sunshine Millions Sprint back at Gulfstream. ing a race run in a long straight. He was also second twice in 2019 to

“I think Brendan called it right. He said Canadian juggernaut Pink Lloyd in the Grade the horse needed that straight run and needed 3 Jacques Cartier Stakes and in the Grade 2 Extravagant Kid and Ryan Moore ■ Coady Photo