By Bloodhorse Staff
Rebounding from an eighth-place finish in the Smile Sprint (gr. II), Newtown Anner Stud and Joseph Bulger’s Falling Sky captured the $75,000 Trinniberg Stakes at Gulfstream Park Aug. 1. Watch Video
Making just his second start in 12 months and second since transferring from Geroge Weaver to trainer Martin Wolfson, Falling Sky won by a head over Ledokol, with Grande Shores 1 3/4 lengths back in third.
The 9-5 second choice, Falling Sky was part of the early pace as Phish Fan, under Tyler Gaffalione, led the way through an opening quarter in :22.65. Falling Sky and Ledokol sat just off the leader through a :44.52 half-mile, with the pair of 8-5 favorite Grande Shores and City of Weston in pursuit.
Turning for home, Falling Sky, ridden by Harry Hernandez, launched his bid and took command at the top of the stretch. Ledokol and Grande Shores tried to run the grade I-placed runner down but couldn’t get by.
“The race was coming down to the wire, and I got nervous seeing the number four horse (Ledokol) come up, but as soon as I saw that I came in first on the video board, I was so happy,” Hernandez said.
Prior to a yearlong layoff, Falling Sky won Parx Racing‘s Donald LeVine Memorial Handicap and finished third in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course. When returning in the Smile Sprint July 5, however, the 5-year-old son of Lion Heart was met with trouble from the start as he broke through the gates before the race began. When re-breaking, he could not go with a quick pace set by eventual winner Favorite Tale. In the Trinniberg, he was a much fitter horse, covering the seven-furlong distance in 1:22.63. Wolfson said he expects even more in his charge’s next start.
“His next race will probably be a real strong race,” he said. “He hadn’t run in almost a year. To run 1:09 and 1:22 (today), it was a good race for him. He’s been working good. The first race was a throw-out and in this race he did what he needed to do.”
Wolfson said a return trip to the Spa might be in the cards for Falling Sky, who could go for the Forego (gr. I) Aug. 29, but added, “I don’t know yet.”
Falling Sky, who returned $5.60 to win, was bred in Pennsylvania by Copper Penny Stables from the Sea Hero mare Sea Dragoness. He was a $425,000 purchase by agent Justin Casse at the 2013 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. January mixed sale and has won six of 16 career starts while banking $468,188.