King’s Ovation continued a nice run in several respects Thursday at Churchill Downs, providing a fourth straight winner for the combination of West Point and trainer Dale Romans.
The 5-year-old gelding controlled the pace and held strong in the stretch, inching clear to win by 2 1/4 lengths under jockey Martin Garcia.
It was King’s Ovation who began the win streak on April 23 at Keeneland in $30k claiming company for non-winners of three lifetime, and he aced the jump up to the $62,500 open claiming level on Thursday with a wonderful, front-running trip that Garcia was able to work out.
West Point campaigns King’s Ovation with co-owners Peacock Stable, which includes NBC Sports veterans Tom Hammond, Mike Battaglia and Cris Collinsworth.
Garcia also piloted Giant Game to a gate-to-wire triumph for West Point and Romans a week earlier at Churchill.
Secret Pocket was the other Romans/West Point winner at Churchill on opening night, April 29.