TAURUS BOY caught BIG BIG DADDY close home in yesterday’s overnight-allowance sprint at five furlongs round, winning by a neck at odds of 5-2, his fifth attempt at the level after beating non-winners-of-four-races last November.
Making his bid with Omar Walker leaving the three-furlong marker, United States-bred TAURUS BOY, pounced three-wide, taking aim at topweight BIG BIG DADDY tackling speedy SUPER DUPER on the lead.
BIG BIG DADDY took over from SUPER DUPER a furlong and a half out, fighting gallantly with champion jockey Dane Dawkins to repel TAURUS BOY on his outside.
However, topweight 126lb took a toll on BIG BIG DADDY, a middle-distance runner, who was rushed off his legs early to keep SUPER DUPER honest on the lead. TAURUS BOY poked his head in front shades from the wire, beating the local-bred in 1:01.0 for Philip Feanny and owner Lakeland Farms.
Walker earlier piloted champion trainer Jason DaCosta’s OUTBIDDER to a second straight win since returning from a near seven-month break.
OUTBIDDER, who smashed the Yearling Sale record in 2020, purchased for $6.1 million by champion owner Carlton Watson, made all at seven and a half furlongs, clocking an impressive 1:34.4 in the second event among non-winners-of-four-races.
Claiming rider Anthony Allen was aboard the day’s longshot, 9-1 chance LITTLE GROVY THING, awarded the eighth event after first-past-the-post LETTERS IN GOLD’s disqualification for interference caused to 16-1 outsider JJ WARRIOR in the stretch run.
Racing continues next Saturday, followed by a holiday meet on Ash Wednesday.