Applicator Back-Classes Way to Win in $400,000 Tourist Mile

FRANKLIN, KY – Owner/trainer Mikhail Yanakov’s homebred Applicator got rid of the blinkers and cut down in distance, falling back-classward into the winner’s circle in Wednesday’s $400,000 Tourist Mile Stakes at Kentucky Downs.

Nobody told Applicator that he was winless since May 28, 2016, with only two money finishes in 13 subsequent starts. Jockey Jose Valdivia, Jr., settled behind a pace-setting Western Reserve through the first 1/2-mile before kicking into high gear and reaching the finish line first at odds of 13/1.

Flatlined overcame a slow start to get up late for second ahead of Shining Copper. It was a neck back to Irish Strait, who was a nose in front of Western Reserve. Zambian, Bandar, and Hootenanny completed the order of finish. Dimension was scratched.

The win improved the 4-year-old gelding’s record to 30-3-2-2 with career earnings of $335,470. The winner’s share was only $120,280, rather than $240,560, due to Applicator not being eligible for funds out of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.

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Applicator returned $29.40 to win, $14 to place, and $6.20 to show. Flatlined brought back $5.40 to place and $3.80 to show, while Shining Copper paid $4.80 to show.