Front-Running Acting Zippy Captures the Grade 3, $200,000 Connally Breeders' Cup Turf at Sam Houston Race Park
By Martha Claussen
Saturday, January 30, 2010 – Near freezing temperatures could not cool off the redhot performance of Acting Zippy as he led gate to wire in the Grade 3, $200,000 Connally Breeders' Cup Turf, the richest race of the Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred meeting.
Robby Albarado, who won the Connally Breeders' Cup Turf in 2000 aboard Rod and Staff and again in 2005 with Fort Prado, was the winning pilot. Albarado set moderate fractions, completing the first quarter mile in :25.37 and the half-mile in :50.06. Morning line favorite Orientate Express made a late move under Glen Murphy, but could not catch the leader. Final time for the mile and one-eighth stakes over the firm Connally turf course was 1:52.31.
"The circumstances dictated the race," said Albarardo. "He broke well and went to the lead and gave a real classy performance."
"My horse put his heart into it," said Murphy. "I just couldn't get by the winner. It was fun while it lasted."
Hal Wiggins, who trained former Connally winners Chorwon and Rod and Staff, made the trophy presentation to trainer Don Bennett and Albarado. Wiggins retired last year and he and his wife, Renee, make their home in Houston.
Acting Zippy had not run on the turf since last March at Fair Grounds, but had prevailed in stakes wins at Monmouth Park, Penn National and Delaware Park in 2009. Bennett thought the Connally might be a good fit for his versatile runner.
"These people at Sam Houston have been very good to me," said Bennett, who indicated that Acting Zippy might return to the main track in his next start.
Bennett, who co-owns Acting Zippy with Carl Bowling, collected a check for $120,000 for the victory, sending the 5-year-old gelding over half-million mark in career earnings.
The John B. Connally Turf Cup, which received its Grade 3 distinction in 2006, has attracted some of the top turf runners in the country since its first running in 1995. Texas-bred Scrappy Roo won the 2008 edition of the stakes, which was not held last year due to the closure of Sam Houston Race Park due to damages from Hurricane Ike.
Acting Zippy, who had a morning line of 15-1, was bet down to 5-1 and returned $12.40, $7.60 and $5.40 across the board. The exacta with Orientate Express paid $97.60 and Baltimore Bob finished third to complete the $573.60 trifecta. Gran Estreno, Gretsky, Ablaze with Spirit, Going Ballistic, Pool Play, My Happiness, Red Rock Creek, Fifteen Love and Real Appeal completed the order of finish. Ernesto and King Dan were early scratches.