KING’S CORONATION WINS THIRD RACE AT CLN MEET, SUNDAY CARD CANCELLED DUE TO HEAT

KING'S CORONATION (Jeff Coady/Coady Photography)

CNL: King’s Coronation became the season’s second three race winner Saturday when he captured a claiming one mile turf event at Colonial Downs on a steamy evening.

Jockey Forest Boyce, who is battling Horacio Karamanos for second place in the rider standings behind Sheldon Russell, guided King’s Coronation to his third straight triumph this meet and fourth consecutive win at Colonial going back to last year.

The 11 year old Red Ransom gelding went gate to wire in his first pair this summer, but had to rally in the final half mile Saturday. Pride of the Fleet was the pacesetter in the field of five through the top of the stretch while King’s Coronation moved strategically from fourth to second. Boyce’s charge easily went past the fading frontrunner shortly after but had to hold off fast closing First Nite at the finish to gain a one-half length victory in 1:37.97.

King’s Coronation is trained by meet leader Hugh McMahon for the High Goal Racing Stable. The Boyce-McMahon combo jockey-trainer connected later in the card as well with Unlimited Spirit in the sixth. McMahon has a 3 win lead over trainer Ferris Allen, 13-10, while Boyce and Karamanos are tied with 18 wins each, but trail leader Sheldon Russell.

In the fifth, Bimini Storm, sent off at 35-1, triggered a huge trifecta payout. Coupled with runner up Pine Mountain and third place finisher Treasure Falls, the resulting 12-2-1 fifty cent triple paid a handsome $6,225.75.

Colonial Downs has cancelled tomorrow’s (Sunday’s) race card due to the expected extreme heat. The 15th anniversary celebration has been rescheduled for next Saturday, July 14th. The track is dark until Thursday when a nine race card goes to post at 7:00 PM.