LEXINGTON, Ky. — Things came to a halt Saturday morning at Barn 33, where trainer Brendan Walsh’s Keeneland crew took time out to watch one of Walsh’s trainees, DARRS Inc.’s Extravagant Kid, win the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint (G1) at Meydan on the Dubai World Cup card.
The victory marked the 8-year-old gelding’s first graded stakes victory of his 50-race career.
“The main reason he went over there was the 6 furlongs on the straight,” said Paul Madden, Walsh’s top assistant at Keeneland. “Over here in one-turn races, he would get to the front and then hit the brakes.”
A five-time runner-up in graded stakes before the trip to Dubai, Extravagant Kid finished fourth, beaten a length in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) here last fall after starting from post position 14 in his most recent Grade 1 attempt.
Walsh was not present for the victory.
“He is flying to New Orleans this morning where he has four in this afternoon (at Fair Grounds),” Madden said. “He flies back to Florida for Prevalence’s work tomorrow for the Wood Memorial (G2) and then will be here Monday.”
Madden oversaw the work earlier Saturday morning by Brad King, Jim Cone, Scott Bryant and Stan and Suzanne Kirby’s Moon Swag, who is expected to start in next Saturday’s $400,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1). She worked a half-mile in company in :47.40 over a fast main track.
“She worked great this morning and is on track for the Ashland,” Madden said of Moon Swag, most recently third in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds.
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