Battle Station springs 20-1 upset in $85K Lucky Coin

by Keith McCalmont

RB Racing's New York-bred Battle Station, reunited with jockey Kendrick Carmouche, returned to winning ways in Sunday's $85,000 Lucky Coin at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Rob Atras, the 5-year-old Warrior's Reward gelding entered the 5 ½-furlong Mellon turf sprint for 4-year-olds and upward from a troubled fifth on August 28 in an optional-claiming turf sprint at the Spa.

A veteran of 29 career starts, Battle Station won his first two career starts with Carmouche aboard, including a narrow debut score sprinting on the turf in August 2017 at Saratoga followed one month later by a 9 ¼-length romp on the Belmont Park main track in the Bertram F. Bongard when campaigned by trainer Wesley Ward.

In their first race together in 25 starts and nearly three full years, Carmouche and Battle Station kept a perfect winning record intact with a 1 ¼-length score at odds of 20-1 as the longest price in the field.

"He doesn't forget the hands. He knows the voice," said Carmouche with a laugh.

Readyforprimetime broke sharply and led the field through an opening quarter-mile in 21.97 seconds under pressure from Pulsate with Carmouche content to settle Battle Station along the rail in third.

Readyforprimetime held a narrow lead late in the turn with Pulsate continuing to harass and Gidu angling outside to launch his bid. Battle Station loomed large along the rail as Carmouche waited patiently to tip his charge out for racing room as the half-mile ticked by in 44.71.

Once in the clear, Battle Station gained ground down the lane with swift strides to overtake the battling duo of Pulsate and Readyforprimetime and was up in time to secure the victory in a final time of 1:01.79 on the firm turf.

Pulsate completed the exacta by a nose over Readyforprimetime. Fig Jelly, Gidu, Pagliacci and mutuel favorite Shekky Shebaz completed the order of finish. Fixed Point and main-track only entrant Lenstar were scratched.

The victory marked the second stakes win of the meet for Atras, who captured the NYSSS Park Avenue on Thursday with Officer Hutchy.

The Canadian-born conditioner said Carmouche was confident in the paddock despite the dark bay being cold on the tote board.

"Kendrick knows the horse and I knew that," said Atras. "He gave me a lot of confidence when I legged him up, he said that he was going to put him in a real forward position. He said, 'This is my boy, we're going to do it'. Kendrick made the right move. It worked out well, it was perfect."

Carmouche, who picked up his first stakes win of the Saratoga meet, said he was content to sit behind the early speed.

"I was thinking about going but the other two horses wanted it more than me," said Carmouche. "I know this horse well and I've won on him twice before. We reunited today with Rob Atras and I know this horse like the back of my hand. He broke so sharp, I dropped my hands and from there I just had to work my way out to win the race."

Bred in the Empire State by Lansdowne Thoroughbreds, Battle Station banked $46,750 in victory while improving his record to 29-6-5-4. He paid $42.40.

Live racing returns Monday with a 14-race card to close out the 40-day Saratoga summer meet highlighted by the Grade 1, $250,000 Runhappy Hopeful at seven furlongs for 2-year-olds; and the $85,000 Lure, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for older horses. First post is 11:30 a.m.

Live racing will then move to Belmont Park for the 27-day fall meet, featuring 38 stakes worth $5.58 million in purse money, that will kick off on Friday, September 18 and run through Sunday, November 1.