Battle Station Upsets Lucky Coin

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – RB Racing’s Battle Station shot to the lead inside the 1/16 pole to pull off the 20/1 upset in Sunday’s $85,000 Lucky Coin Stakes at Saratoga.

Breaking from post 3 under Kendrick Carmouche, Battle Station was initially on the lead but backed off slightly as Readyforprimetime and Pulsate wanted command.

Battle Station sat just behind the pacesetters through opening fractions of :21.97 and :44.71, then tipped off the rail in mid-stretch and began to edge his way to the front.

Drawing off late, Rob Atras trainee completed the 5 1/2-furlong firm outer turf sprint in a final time of 1:01.79.

“I was thinking about going, but the other two horses wanted it more than me,” Carmouche said. “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.”

Pulsate nosed out Readyforprimetime in a photo for second, while Fig Jelly headed Gidu for fourth behind them.

Pagliacci and the 7/5 favorite Shekky Shebaz completed the order of finish.

Fixed Point was scratched. Lenstar was a Main Track Only entry.

Battle Station’s win was his second since his current connections claimed him for $40,000 last November and improved his overall record to 28-6-5-4. The New York-bred 5-year-old Warrior’s Reward gelding won a pair of state-restricted dirt stakes earlier in his career and has now earned $425,815.

“Kendrick knows the horse and I knew that,” Atras said. “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.”

Battle Station returned $42.40 to win, $15 to place, and $7.90 to show. Pulsate brought back $5.80 to place and $3.90 to show, while Readyforprimetime paid $3.90 to show.