Ab's Beach Boy upsets Always A Virgin in Lexington

Always A Virgin, a winner of over $1 million last year, was the overwhelming choice of the betting public on Sunday night at The Red Mile, dispatched as the 1-5 choice in the $6,000 Open. However, someone forgot to tell Ab’s Beach Boy and driver Kyle Ater, who used a first-over trip to look the heavy favorite in the eye and get his nose ahead at the wire in 1:50.4.

Stacey Ruddick is the owner-lessee of Ab’s Beach Boy, and she said that the 5-year old Jenna’s Beach Boy colt was just beginning to return to form after having a year off due to an injury. Ruddick said that they used the time off for Ab’s Beach Boy to test his ability in the breeding shed, as he bred eight mares in 2008. The foals will be Indiana sired and should hit the ground next year.

“Mark O’Mara had other engagements so he couldn’t come down. I like Kyle (Ater), and he listens to what you tell him,” Ruddick explained. “We were hoping that Kyle would not give up on him halfway down the stretch. When my dad (Harold Ruddick) trained him this week he said that he thought he could go in 1:51.”

It turns out that Ab’s Beach Boy was ready to go even better than that, posting his win in a season’s best in 1:50.4. The win was his second consecutive victory at The Red Mile.

Always A Virgin did not go down easily, and the two hooked up in an epic stretch duel for the entire length of the stretch. Things were not settled until Ab’s Beach Boy stuck a nose in front only a few strides before the wire. Big Tim and driver Trace Tetrick followed up Ab’s Beach Boy second-over to garner the show spot. (Red Mile)

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