Ability outlasts blinding pace to land I’msatisfied Trophy

ABILITY, LAST year’s derby winner and Mouttet Mile runner-up, closed along the rail inside the final half-furlong to outfinish United States-bred I AM FRED in a head-bob for Saturday’s I’msatisfied Trophy at six furlongs.

Closing a three-timer for leading rider Tevin Foster, ABILITY raced fifth down the backstretch while BOOTYLICIOUS set cracking splits, leading A GIFT FROM BEN, I AM FRED and WALL STREET TRADER racing as a trio.

Speedy and light with 111lb, BOOTYLICIOUS kicked on in a three-furlong split of 34.0 after a blinding opening quarter of 22.3, straightening full of running in 46.0.

Whereas A GIFT FROM BEN and WALL STREET TRADER, who had bandages on all four, cried no mas entering the lane, I AM FRED stuck to the task in mid-track, taking aim at BOOTYLICIOUS.

However, ABILITY, who had made an eye-catching move to straighten within striking distance along the rail, motored on the inside, finishing strongly to point on I AM FRED in mid-track, winning the open-allowance event by a head at odds of 2-1 in 1:12.1.

Foster, who had opened the nine-race card aboard ABSOLUTE BLUE, notched his second win astride WHO DONEIT in the fifth, extended his lead to 12 ahead of Raddesh Roman with ABILITY’s feature-race victory.

However, Roman, who had landed the seventh with Anthony Nunes’ SIPREMASI at six and a half furlongs, returned to reduce his deficit to 11 in the nightpan, falling from the clouds aboard Philip Feanny’s importee, INSPIRE FORCE, to sweep by Foster stealing home astride MILOS.

Racing continues at the weekend with the season’s first classics, the 1000 and 2000 Guineas set for Saturday and Sunday, respectively.