Special Shake Wins Dash for Cash Futurity

Special Shake made up for two previous losses to favored Runaway Winner Saturday night by rallying to win the $698,000 Dash for Cash Futurity before a crowd of 7,133 at Los Alamitos Race Course.

A furlong from the finish of the 400-yard race, Special Shake trailed leader Bonsai Billy, the second-longest shot on the board, by a half-length. But Special Shake, with John Creager aboard, overtook Bonsai Billy to earn the winner’s purse of $259,540. The winning time was 19.81 seconds.

Runaway Winner had beaten Special Shake in the June 6 Kindergarten and their Dash for Cash Futurity trial in late May, but suffered his second career loss in six starts Saturday.

Bonsai Billy, a $15,250 supplement to the Dash for Cash Futurity trials, held on doggedly under Jockey John Ward to finish a head in front of Runaway Winner. Bonsai Billy, a 51-1 shot, had only the 10th-fastest time (20.17) in the Dash for Cash Futurity trials.

Special Shake paid $8.20, $4.40 and $2.80; Bonsai Billy returned $33.20 and $4.60, and Runaway Winner paid $2.20 to show.