5th-OP, $79,000, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($62,500), 3-3, 3yo, 1m, 1:38.80, ft.
EXCLAMATION POINT (c, 3, Concord Point–Sambuca Classica, by Cat Thief), a half-brother to Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile), Ch. Juvenile Male, MGISW, $2,520,220, proved he could handle two turns just fine with a clear-cut tally as the 3-5 chalk. The chestnut went right to the front and continued on to post a 2 1/2-length victory going six local panels Feb. 3, prompting Staton Flurry of Flurry Racing Stables to purchase a 50% interest in the colt. He fired a four-furlong bullet in :47.40 Feb. 26 in preparation for this start. Sitting second in the early going here behind splits of :22.93 and :47.18, the big-striding colt challenged the leader approaching the quarter pole and kicked away. He wanted to drift out close to home, but stayed straight enough to strike the line 1 1/4 lengths clear of late-charging Bode's Maker (Bodemeister). Previously undefeated Colour Guard (Archarcharch) was just a nose back in third and it was another seven lengths to the fourth-place finisher. Exclamation Point is also a half to Anytime Magic (Fusaichi Pegasus), MSW, $202,945; and Uptown Twirl (Twirling Candy), MSW, $170,714. Sambuca Classica, a daughter of MGISP In Her Glory (Miswaki), aborted an Uncle Mo foal in 2016, but produced a Candy Ride (Arg) filly last year. She was bred back to Pioneerof the Nile. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $92,400. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Steven& Brandi Nicholson & Flurry Racing Stables LLC; B-Steven Nicholson & Brandi Nicholson (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.[bullet ad=”bradshaw-randy-shell”]
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