New York-based trainer Todd Pletcher wasn’t at Keeneland Oct. 8, but the Hall of Famer’s impact on a pair of back-to-back Grade 1 races late in the afternoon was unmistakable.
Month: October 2022
Rougir Prevails In Woodbine’s E. P. Taylor, Provides Brant, Brown Second Top-Level Win Saturday
Owner Peter Brant and trainer Chad Brown enjoyed two victories at the highest level about an hour apart Saturday, including Rougir's game neck victory over Queen's Plate victress Moira, who ultimately was disqualified and placed eighth for interference.
Flirting Bridge, who finished third, a head behind Moira, was moved up to second, and Fev Rover placed to third in the nine-horse field.
Brant, who campaigns Rougir in partnership with Michael Tabor, and Brown also were represented in fine style at Keeneland when stablemates In Italian and Regal Glory finished a respective first and second in the First Lady (G1).
Rougir, ridden by Kazushi Kimura, found her best stride late and was got up in time in the E. P. Taylor, finishing the 1 ¼-mile turf test in 2:02.62 on firm going. She returned $12.60.
Adventuring, riding a two-race win streak, went to the front as Lemista and Mylady picked up the chase in second and third, respectively. Rougir settled into seventh of nine through an opening quarter in :26.78, while Moira, the even-money choice, sat sixth.
Adventuring held a 1 ½-length lead at the half, reached in :51.39, as Mylady and Lemista continued to apply pressure on the front-runner. Rougir, running comfortably in seventh, was then steadied at the nine-sixteenths, causing her to get knocked off stride and seemingly out of it as the field entered the turn for home.
While Rougir looked to get back into the race, Moira was guided to the rail and began to take aim at new leader Flirting Bridge.
Midway down the lane, Rougir came running with a determined outside bid, but still had plenty of work to do as the wire drew closer.
Under urging from Kimurashe wouldn't be denied, getting up to notch a neck victory over Moira. A subsequent claim of foul by the rider of Lemista demoted Moira to eighth.
A 4-year-old Territories filly, Rougir came in off a fifth in the Beverly D. Stakes (G1) August 13 at Churchill Downs but rebounded with aplomb Saturday while earning her first North American Grade 1 win.
Bred in France where she began her career, Rougir closed her French campaign with a victory in the Prix de l'Opera (G1) before finishing seventh in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) in her North American debut to end her 2021 campaign. She began 2022 with victory in the Beaugay (G3) at Belmont Park in May and after three unplaced finishes got back to the winner's circle Saturday.
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Flawless In Front: Going To Vegas Stamps Breeders’ Cup Ticket In Rodeo Drive
Back to defend her title in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes and stamp her ticket to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff, the Phil D'Amato-trained Going to Vegas was flawless on the front end today at Santa Anita as she waltzed gate to wire under Umberto Rispoli, getting a mile and one quarter on turf in 1:59.41 while never being seriously challenged.
A Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race qualifier, the Chandelier victory thus provides Going to Vegas with a fee-paid berth in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 5 at Keeneland.
“This was our plan all along to focus on this race to bring us to the Breeders' Cup and we got the job done,” D'Amato said. “(Umberto Rispoli) knows her very well, so I just kind of legged him up. I thought we'd be on the lead but, he had a plan. Plan A worked and he got the job done and got us into the Breeders' Cup.”
Handled adroitly by Rispoli, Going to Vegas, a 5-year-old mare by Goldencents, made the lead with consummate ease from her number three post position, held a three quarter length advantage under the wire the first time and with Rispoli pulling the trigger at the top of the lane, she prevailed by 1 ¼ lengths over midwestern invader Family Way in a tremendous effort.
“We were expecting to go to the lead,” said Rispoli. “We had the same plan and everything worked well. I haven't been on her since last March, but she gave me that same feeling as the last time. At the top of the stretch, she took off. She felt good, was really relaxed and she did everything. She always responds. I think she really loves this track. It's on to Keeneland.”
Most recently a troubled third in the G2 John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar Sept. 10, Going to Vegas stretched out an eighth of a mile today and returned $7.20, $3.20 and $3.00 while off as the 5-2 third choice in a field of seven fillies and mares.
Owned by Abbondanza Racing, LLC, Medallion Racing and MyRacehorse, Going to Vegas, who was claimed 18 starts back for $50,000, now has two Grade 1 wins and six wins from 15 tries over the Santa Anita turf. With the winner's share of $180,000, she increased her earnings to $989,151.
“This is an absolute dream come true,” said co-owner Bing Bush of Abbondanza Racing. “I cannot even believe it and to be here right now with our Abbondaza partners, it is just so magical, and to be here with MyRacehorse and Medallion, it has just been an incredible journey that she has taken us on. We thought about selling her last year and we decided to keep her, and now we are going to go to Keeneland, my home track, where I grew up in Lexington, and (we) get to go there with this great filly. Phil's done an amazing job with her. I cannot possibly say enough.”
Out of the Johannesburg mare Hard to Resist, Going to Vegas carved out splits of 23.82, 48.60, 1:13.42 and 1:36.61.
Ridden by Mike Smith, Family Way made a good late run and paid $3.60 and $3.20 while off as the second choice at 5-2.
Longshot Bellamore, ridden by Kyle Frey, paid $9.20 while off at 30-1.
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‘I’ve Never Experienced A High Like This’: Sophomore Annapolis Defeats Elder Rivals In ‘Win And You’re In’ Turf Mile
Bass Racing homebred Annapolis, a 3-year-old son of War Front, earned an expenses-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Mile with his win over elder rivals in Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Turf Mile at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky. It was the third win of the day for jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., and second for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.
Settled inside in third early, Annapolis angled out around the far turn and grabbed the lead into the lane. He continued to pull away from the rest of the field, including five individual Grade 1 winners, to win by 1 1/2 lengths at post-time odds of 6-1. Annapolis' final time for a mile over the firm turf was 1:33.29, a new stakes record. It was also Annapolis' first Grade 1 victory.
“It's pretty impossible to put this (victory) into words,” said Perry Bass, who co-owns the horse with his mother, Ramona Bass. “A huge thanks to the team who raised him from Day 1 and brought him along this far – the trainer (Todd Pletcher), (jockey) Irad (Ortiz Jr.) – we could go on and on.
“(This win is) the pinnacle. (My mother and I) talk about (the racehorses) daily. We fret daily. The lows are the worst, and the highs … I've never experienced a high like this.”
Bred in Kentucky by his owners, Annapolis is out of the Unbridled's Song mare My Miss Sophia, a Grade 2 winner on the dirt and Grade 1-placed on both the dirt and the turf, including a runner-up finish in the Kentucky Oaks. My Miss Sophia was sold with Annapolis in utero at the 2018 Keeneland November sale, commanding a final bid of $4 million from the Bass family.
Annapolis won both his starts as a juvenile, concluding his season with a win in the G2 Pilgrim. This year, the colt kicked off his campaign with a runner-up finish over very soft turf in the G2 Penn Mile, then came back to win the listed Manila Stakes before a second place finish to Nations Pride in the G1 Saratoga Derby. Annapolis won the G3 Saranac last month, and continued that winning streak against a solid field in the G1 Turf Mile. Overall, the colt's resume stands at five wins and two seconds from seven starts for earnings of $1,166,100.
“Very impressive,” Ortiz said of Saturday's run from Annapolis. “It's not easy to win against these horses. We had Santin, we had Masen (GB), we had so many good horses in this race, the O'Brien horse (Order of Australia). He's only a 3-year-old but he's doing so good right now. I think he has ability. He's a nice horse.”
Ivar, winner of this race in 2020, closed from well off the pace to get second, finishing a nose in front of Order of Australia, winner of the 2020 Breeders' Cup Mile. The remaining order of finish was as follows: Set Piece, Casa Creed, Masen, Classic Causeway, Atone, Santin, Grey's Fable, and Somelikeithotbrown.
The post ‘I’ve Never Experienced A High Like This’: Sophomore Annapolis Defeats Elder Rivals In ‘Win And You’re In’ Turf Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
