Special Reserve took the lead from the start and never looked back on his way to posting a three-and-a-half length victory in the Senator Robert C. Byrd Memorial Stakes at Mountaineer Race Track and Casino on Saturday, 6 August.
It was the first win in just his second start this year for the six-year-old Midshipman gelding, who likely will attempt to defend his title in the G2 Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland’s fall meet.
Breaking sharply under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., Special Reserve took a narrow lead over Baytown Bear from the outset. Special Reserve continued to hold a slight advantage over his rival throughout, then shifted gears in the stretch to pull away for a comfortable victory.
Bred in Kentucky by Russell L. Reineman Stable Inc., Special Reserve is out Love Spun, by Hard Spun. Love Spun is a half-sister to multiple Stakes winner Humor at Last and to Original Spin, winner of the G3 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes and who was G1-placed in both the Test Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
In addition to Special Reserve, Midshipman is also represented this year by Royal Ship, recent winner of the G2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. The stallion is also represented by Fortino, a four-time Graded Stakes winner as a two-year-old in Chile, which includes a victory in the G1 Premio Alberto Vial Infante; Succeso, winner of the G2 Premio Verano Arturo Cousino L. and Shipsational, who was placed in both the G2 Tampa Bay Derby and G3 Sam F. Davis Stakes.
