At the Post: Casey Key defeats star-studded field at Suffolk

Casey Key made every call a winning one to defeat a star studded field in Saturday’s featured race, completing six furlongs in 1:09 4/5.Trained by Tim Kirby and ridden to victory by Vernon Bush, the 4-year-old son of Nobiz Like Showbiz broke sharply and secured the early lead. He rolled through demanding fractions before pulling away by half a length and holding off a strong late charge from New England champions Victor Laszlo and Chaotic Bull.Casey Key returned $8.60, 3.80 and 3.40. Chaotic Bull paid $3.60 and 3.00 while Victor Laszlo paid $4.60.uMy Tee Time remained perfect locally with a front-running victory on Monday at Suffolk Downs, defeating a quality field of six rivals by eleven lengths and shattering the track record to complete five and a half furlongs in 1:03 2/5.Trained by Kevin McCarthy and ridden by Frank Reyes, the 5-year-old daughter of El Niño broke sharply and assumed the early lead. She rolled comfortably through demanding fractions of 0:22 1/5, 0:45 1/5 and 0:57 before drawing away authoritatively at the top of the stretch.It was the second consecutive victory for the mare since coming to Suffolk for the partnership of Robert Beaudoin, Dan Hallahan and Joseph Hallahan.My Tee Time returned $3.80, 2.60 and 2.20. Kitty City paid $3.40 and 3.00 and Mimi’s Sugar returned $6.40.uToday at Suffolk Downs, former New England champion Hold on Smokey will make his local return in the featured eighth race, a $25,000 allowance/optional claiming race to be contested at about five furlongs on the turf.Tabbed as the 2-1 morning line favorite for owner and trainer Joyce Kielty, Hold on Smokey is an eighteen-time winner and a stakes winner. He was champion three-year-old in New England in 2008 and culminated his season with an impressive win in the Robert M. O’Malley Stakes. Augusto Marin has been named to ride.Also in the field is the reigning New England champion turf female, Lapantalones Fance. She will be making her first start of the season for Deborah Thomas and will have Gary Wales aboard as she takes on male rivals.The featured race is the eighth race of the nine-race card. Post time is 12:45 p.m.Also today, the popular B E Boston Strong will take on a field of five rivals in a competitive starter allowance. Trained by Kevin McCarthy, the Canadian-bred son of Perfect Soul was third against a similar field in his most recent start.Material from wire services and racing sources is used for this report.