Kahlid Abdul Rahim's Bitcoin Passion (Ire) (American Pharoah) was backed down to 2-1 favoritism amongst a well-bred field at Tampa Sunday off a series of five-panel drills at Payson Park, and the money proved prescient as he overcame some greenness in a powerhouse performance worthy of 'TDN Rising Star'-dom. Hopping up at the start, the chestnut found a midpack spot along the rail early behind splits of :23.71 and :48.45. He came off the inside heading into the second bend, but leading local rider Antonio Gallardo hadn't yet given him the OK to go as they approached the straight. Put to a drive at the head of the lane, he shifted in greenly as he picked off rivals. Seemingly running himself off his own feet, Bitcoin Passion inhaled his competition with bounding strides before leveling off late to kick away by 1 3/4 lengths. Fellow firster Buy Me Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}) completed the exacta.
The winner's dam, by one of the world's hottest broodmare sires in Bernardini, was a $420,000 purchase at the 2014 Keeneland November sale while in foal to Tiznow. She is a half to MGSW dirt runner Listen Here (Gulch) and to GSP Listen (Chester House), who in turn produced Grade I-winning grasser La Coronel (Colonel John). Further down the page are the likes of MGISW Listening (Night Shift) and Grade II winner Beautiful Noise (Sunny's Halo) and her daughter Linda (Scat Daddy), also a Grade II winner on the lawn. Listen Dear produced colts in 2018 and 2019 by owner/breeder Kahlid Abdul Rahim's Al Rifai (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}–Lahaleeb {Ire}).
3rd-Tampa Bay Downs, $20,000, Msw, 1-19, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:43.82, fm.
BITCOIN PASSION (IRE), c, 3, American Pharoah
1st Dam: Listen Dear, by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Listen Now, by Storm Bird
3rd Dam: Listen Well, by Secretariat
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $11,400. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O/B-Kahlid Abdul Rahim (IRE); T-Christophe Clement.
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