Collusion Illusion (Twirling Candy) got the better of his elders and earned a spot in the gate for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, holding off a late rally from Lexitonian (Speightstown) to take Del Mar's GI Bing Crosby S. Settling near the back of the pack, the 9-5 chalk ran off the fence with only Lexitonian, who trailed the field by several lengths, beat as the remaining five scrambled for control through a sharp first quarter in :21.58. Wildman Jack (Goldencents) gained a very narrow advantage as the half went up in :44.73. Collusion Illusion wove his way between horses at the top of the stretch, pushing through at the fence to take control in the final sixteenth, and held off a powerful late rally from Lexitonian to win by a nose.
A debut winner at this venue last July, Collusion Illusion followed suit with a win in the GII Best Pal S. over track and trip a month later. Pulled up and walked off when trying two turns in the GI American Pharoah S. at Santa Anita last fall, he was subsequently shelved for the reason and returned a winner in an Arcadia sprint May 17. The $300,000 OBSAPR purchase captured the GIII Laz Barrera S. last time at Santa Anita June 20.
Pedigree Notes:
Collusion Illusion is the fourth Grade I winner for Twirling Candy and one of nine graded victors and 24 black-type scorers for the stallion. The winner's unraced dam Natalie Grace is a half-sister to GSW & GISP Bahamian Squall (Gone West) and Apriority (Grand Slam). Collusion Illusion is the only foal for his dam.
Saturday, Del Mar
BING CROSBY S.-GI, $251,500, Del Mar, 8-1, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:10.41, ft.
1–COLLUSION ILLUSION, 118, c, 3, by Twirling Candy
1st Dam: Natalie Grace, by First Dude
2nd Dam: Midway Squall, by Storm Bird
3rd Dam: Oh So Precious, by Best Turn
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($50,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $300,000 2yo '19
OBSAPR). O-Agnew, Dan J., Orr, Rodney E., Schneider, Jerry
and Xitco, John V.; B-Donald R. Dizney, LLC (FL); T-Mark Glatt;
J-Flavien Prat. $150,000. Lifetime Record: 6-5-0-0, $398,751.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*.
2–Lexitonian, 122, c, 4, Speightstown–Riviera Romper, by Tapit.
O/B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Jack Sisterson. $50,000.
3–Law Abidin Citizen, 122, g, 6, Twirling Candy–Honest Answer,
by Tale of the Cat. ($100,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP). O-Agnew, Dan J.,
Schneider, Gerry and Xitco, John V.; B-Hill 'n' Dale Equine
Holdings, Inc (KY); T-Mark Glatt. $30,000.
Margins: NO, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 1.90, 8.00, 10.00.
Also Ran: Wildman Jack, Heartwood, Fashionably Fast, Anyportinastorm, Desert Law. Scratched: McKinzie, P R Radio Star. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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