Scalding Too Hot to Handle in Ben Ali Stakes

The aptly named Scalding scorched his competition April 23 in the $299,375 Ben Ali Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, preserving a four-race win streak and validating the confidence his connections have felt since the beginning of his career. Continuing a steady move up in class off a March 12 score in the Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs, the 4-year-old son of Nyquist overcame a hop at the start and took command in the stretch, then held off the challenge of Dynamic One by 1 1/4 lengths. Scalding, trained by Shug McGaughey and owned by Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable, and LNJ Foxwoods, kept his undefeated 2022 season intact and offered a prelude to what could be a big year. Co-owner Robert Clay of Grandview Equine noted, "It's always a big day to win at Keeneland," and said he was pleased with the colt's performance. "He showed us today that he's got a lot of class and that he's capable of running with a salty group of horses," Clay said. "We thought we'd come try this one to test him and see how good he is, so we'll probably step him up now. It's a good progression." Assistant trainer Anthony Hamilton said the colt is always patient and showed that in the race under Javier Castellano. "(At) the break, I was like 'Oh, that's not great,' but after that, I thought he settled great," Hamilton said. "He's always been a horse that Javier's been able to switch off. When he wants it, he's waiting for Javier's cue every time, everything he does, which is nice especially going a route of ground. That's what he did and he finished up strong." "We've been the hopeful the whole time that he was this kind of horse. He's showed us so much in the mornings and he's been so classy in everything he's done. He's taken everything that we've thrown at him and handled it plus more. It was nice to see what he did today." The colt has four wins and a second from six starts, with earnings of $306,150. He was sent off at odds of 5-1 and returned $12.20 on a $2 win ticket. Todd Pletcher trainee Dynamic One had a slow start and fought to get back in the field. Owned in partnership by Repole Stable, Phipps Stable, and St. Elias Stable, he rallied down the lane, gaining on the leaders to end as the runner-up. Godolphin's Proxy tracked the pace early, running fourth at a half-mile, and holding onto that position until moving up past favored Warrant in the closing strides to take third. Scalding is out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Hot Water. Four of her five foals are winners. She is also the dam of black-type winner Tracksmith, who won the Frisk Me Now Stakes and was runner-up in the Commonwealth Turf Stakes (G3T). The mare has a 2-year-old Runhappy colt named Runhappy d'Oro and a yearling Omaha Beach filly. She was booked to War of Will for the 2022 season.