Gas Station Sushi remains perfect with Beaumont victory

Apr 08, 2018 Jennifer Caldwell/Brisnet.com

Riley Racing Stables LLC, Jason and Megan J. Tackitt, and Mike Hensen’s Gas Station Sushi improved her record to a perfect two-for-two on Sunday when taking the $150,000 Beaumont Stakes (G2) at Keeneland by 1 1/2 lengths.

The race is the penultimate contest in the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series, but only awarded 10-4-2-1 points the respective top four finishers.

Gas Station Sushi earned those 10 points to debut in 25th on the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard. The Richard Baltas trainee raced in midpack on the backstretch under jockey Corey Nakatani, angled wide around the turn, and ran down the dueling Uppercut and Happy Like a Fool to stop the clock in 1:26.77 for finishing about seven furlongs over the fast dirt.

Sent off the 2-1 favorite, Gas Station Sushi paid $6.20 for taking her stakes bow. Kelly’s Humor rallied well from last to be second, three parts of a length up on Uppercut and Happy Like a Fool, who were separated by only a neck on the wire.

Completing the order of finish were Dream It Is, Upset Brewing, In the Mood, Sunny Skies and Summer Sunday.

Gas Station Sushi, who has now banked $126,000 in her career, was bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farm. She is the first registered stakes scorer out of the Grade 3-placed, stakes-winning Five Star Day mare Five Star Daydream and comes from the same female line as 1990 Broodmare of the Year Kamar.

BEAUMONT STAKES QUOTES

David Meah, assistant trainer Gas Station Sushi, winner

On the importance of having a work over the track prior to the race

“I think it was key. It helped that she got a good feel of it and she (was) quite confident having a go over it.”

Corey Nakatani, jockey Gas Station Sushi, winner

“She’s a special filly. (Sitting off the pace) wasn’t the plan. She didn’t get away great. I was trying to sit in and be patient with her. I have such high (regard for) her. I told (David Meah) don’t worry about where she is.  I think she can do anything and she proved today she can overcome adversity and put in her run.”

Jose Ortiz, jockey Kelly’s Humor, second

“She relaxed very well down the backside. From the three-eighths pole to the wire, she gave me a very good run. She has a great turn of foot and she just kept coming. One more jump and we might have won. She ran very good today.”

Mike Smith, jockey Uppercut, third

“She ran great. She won so easy first time (scoring a 5 3/4-length victory in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race in her February 17 career debut at Santa Anita). I don't think she had enough air in her to go seven-eighths today. She had to run pretty hard from a long way out, which didn’t help and certainly cost us second anyway.”

Tyler Gaffalione, jockey Happy Like a Fool, fourth

“The trip worked out perfect. (We) sat right behind the pace. Coming to the quarter pole, I got her outside. She just got a little tired – she’s coming off a long layoff (since her last race in October). But she really finished up nicely. There was a lot of pace, especially the horse coming from New York and the two California shippers. I figured there was going to be a hot pace. Everybody ran really well.”