One of the most progressive horses to race during this year’s meet at Oaklawn Park, Red Lane Thoroughbreds’ SKELLY (g, 4, Practical Joke–Adande, by Indian Charlie) wrested command of Saturday’s $500,000 GIII Count Fleet Sprint H. right out of the gate and never gave any of his rivals a chance, as he led past every pole for an impressive first victory at the stakes and graded stakes level. Having earned the right to contest a race of this caliber off big-figure allowance scores in the slop Feb. 25 and over a fast strip Mar. 17, the $250,000 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase graduate was the fleetest of the fleet and took the field through an opening quarter-mile in :21.44 as he put several lengths on the chasers. Going great guns and maintaining the advantage for the run around the turn, the dark bay was by the half in a slick :44.46 and kicked home nicely to take it by about three lengths. ‘TDN Rising Star’ Strobe (Into Mischief) raced three wide the trip and kept on bravely to be second in his stakes debut, while favored Tejano Twist (Practical Joke), last-out winner of the GIII Whitmore S. over the course and distance, completed a 1-3 finish for his sire. The final time was 1:09.20. Sales history: $250,000 Ylg ’20 FTKSEL; $350,000 RNA 2yo ’21 FTFMAR. O-Red Lane Thoroughbreds LLC; B-H Allen Poindexter (KY); T-Steve Asmussen.
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