As expected, Better Talk Now’s entrymate Shake the Bank (Sandpit [Brz])
“He split horses very gamely,” Dominguez said. “There wasn’t a whole lot of
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“(Better Talk Now) is so honest,” Motion said. “I mean, what more can I say
about him. This isn’t his distance, don’t forget. I felt about as confident
today as I’ve felt for a while.”
Dispatched at a lukewarm 7-2, Better Talk Now returned $9.40, $5 and $2.60.
The 12-1 Dreadnaught gave back $9 and $3.60 while rounding out the $70.40
exacta. Artie Schiller paid $2.10, ending the $108.20 trifecta. With the 13-1
Sabre d’Argent in fourth, the 1-2-6-4 superfecta ($1) was worth $233.70.
Rebel Rebel (Ire) (Revoque) was fifth, Shake the Bank sixth and Dr Detroit
(Wayne County [Ire]) last.
This was the winner’s first race back since traveling to Japan last November
for the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1), in which he wound up 12th. In posting his eighth
stakes win, Better Talk Now boosted his earnings to $2,772,077 from a record of
33-12-5-2. Among his most notable scores are the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1)
and Sword Dancer Invitational H. (G1) as well as the 2005 United Nations S. (G1)
and Man o’ War S. (G1). The dark bay was running in the Dixie for the third year
in a row, managing only ninth in 2004 and fourth last year, after which his
connections acquired Shake the Bank to ensure an honest pace for the late
closer.
Bred by Wimborne Farm in Kentucky, Better Talk Now went through the auction
ring as a weanling, RNA’ing for $10,500 at the 1999 Keeneland November sale. His
dam, the stakes-placed Bendita (Baldski), has also produced 2004 Caesar Rodney
H. winner and Grade 2-placed B. A. Way (Lasting Approval), Grade 3-placed Beat
the Play (Defensive Play), an unraced juvenile colt named Better Be Ready (More
Than Ready) and an unnamed yearling filly by Indian Charlie.