Lightweight Is That A Fact takes Chairman’s Trophy
Published:Sunday | February 25, 2024 | 12:12 AMAinsley Walters - Gleaner Writer
IS THAT A FACT used his 25lb advantage over ROUGH ENTRY to reel in his fellow American a half-furlong out in yesterday’s Chairman’s Trophy, revelling in a questionable 13lb break at the scale, after finishing seven and a half lengths behind his rival in December’s Mouttet Mile.
Reporting for the Chairman’s Trophy with an allotted weight of 102lb, made even lighter by Jordan Barrett claiming a pound, taking the four-year-old down to 101lb, IS THAT A FACT could afford the luxury of igniting the pace to his advantage by joining ATOMICA and ROUGH ENTRY on the lead four and a half furlongs out.
Racing towards the first half-mile in 46.3 after ATOMICA was pinched for space on the far turn, IS THAT A FACT stayed within two lengths of ROUGH ENTRY, attempting to steal home off the turn with Shamaree Muir taking glances between his legs.
However, completing the first six furlongs in 1:11.1 took a toll on ROUGH ENTRY when IS THAT A FACT renewed his challenge a furlong out, running as fresh as a daisy with the lightweight.
ROUGH ENTRY wilted a half-furlong out, giving way to IS THAT A FACT and, subsequently, ATOMICA rallying against the rail close home to grab second by a short head, confirming her preference to dictate splits at longer distances.
IS THAT A FACT won by two and a quarter lengths, clocking a smart 1:32.1, which should give the handicappers something to think about when next the American lines up in grade one, having benefited from a handicap windfall in the Chairman’s Trophy.
Most Reggae 6 bets were taken out early by consecutive outsiders to start the 10-race card, PHAROAH IT IS and DON’T TELL LOU LOU, who struck at 13-1 and 9-1, respectively.
Surviving Reggae 6 bets were struck out by STRIKE SMART at 3-1 in the fifth, sending a $6 million carryover to this afternoon’s 11-race card.
Tevin Foster booted home a two-timer, five-furlong straight specialist, BASILICUS, and United States-bred AMAZING FORCE in the sixth and ninth, respectively, to move four winners clear, 20, ahead of Raddesh Roman atop the jockeys’ standings.