'TDN Rising Star' UNQUESTIONABLE (FR) (c, 2, Wootton Bassett {GB}–Strawberry Lace {GB}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) was given a tactically flawless steer by world-class reinsman Ryan Moore and proved far too classy in Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita, defeating his stable companion Mountain Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) by about three lengths. Able to secure the gun run one back on the fence in fourth, the €340,000 Arqana August yearling always traveled sweetly in the hands of Moore as Air Recruit (Air Force Blue) took them along at a lively clip in advance of the heavily backed Canadian invader My Boy Prince (Cairo Prince). Going well into the final three furlongs, Unquestionable was ridden for a bit of luck, hoping that the runs came, and come they did, as the bay–a latest second to Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp–was produced three off the inside at midstretch and scampered clear. Mountain Bear finished full of run down the center to claim second, while My Boy Prince held for third. For Moore, it was a sixth victory in the Juvenile Turf, having partnered with Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) last year, and 13th Breeders' Cup win overall, while Aidan O'Brien was winning a 17th race at the championships. The victory would have been of some consolation for Ballydoyle, whose morning-line favorite River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was ordered scratched Friday. Sales history: €340,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG. O-Al Shaqab Racing, Westerberg, Mrs John Magnier, Derrick Smith & Michael B Tabor; B-Mme Camille Vitse, Mme Axelle Vitse, Mme Valentine Vitse & Guillaume Vitse; T-Aidan O'Brien.
Watch UNQUESTIONABLE win the $1 Million @Prevagen #BreedersCup Juvenile Turf on #FutureStarsFriday at @santaanitapark! Cheers to the connections! pic.twitter.com/MODHgiKmmG
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) November 3, 2023
Friday, Santa Anita
PREVAGEN BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE TURF-GI, $920,000, Santa Anita, 11-3, 2yo, c/g, 1mT, 1:33.65, fm.
1–UNQUESTIONABLE (FR), 122, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Strawberry Lace (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire)
2nd Dam: Crying Lightening (Ire),
by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)
3rd Dam: Auction Room, by Chester House
'TDN Rising Star'. 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES
WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. (€340,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG).
O-Al Shaqab Racing, Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick
Smith and Michael B. Tabor; B-Mme C. Vitse, Mme A. Vitse,
Mme V. Vitse, G. Vitse (FR); T-Aidan P. O'Brien; J-Ryan L.
Moore. $520,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Ire, G1SP-Fr, 6-2-2-1, $671,394.
Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Mountain Bear (Ire), 122, c, 2, No Nay Never–Holy Alliance
(Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE.
O-Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor;
B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan P. O'Brien. $170,000.
3–My Boy Prince, 122, c, 2, Cairo Prince–Hopping Not Hoping,
by Silent Name (Jpn). (C$115,000 Ylg '22 CANSEP). O-Gary
Barber; B-Murray Smith (ON); T-Mark E. Casse. $90,000.
Margins: 1HF, HD, HF. Odds: 1.50, 22.30, 5.20.
Also Ran: Can Group, Agate Road, Tok Tok, Air Recruit, Endlessly, Carson's Run, Stay Hot, Fulmineo. Scratched: Grand Mo the First, Liam's Journey, River Tiber (Ire).
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
The post Wootton Bassett Colt Leaves No Doubts in the Juvenile Turf appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
On a sloppy track last out, Fierceness lunged at the start and nearly unseated Irad Ortiz, Jr., eventually tiring to finish seventh as the heavy favorite in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct.
Fast-forward four weeks to a dry, fast track in Southern California: the 2-year-old son of City of Light got a perfect trip under Hall of Famer John Velazquez, galloping away to dominate the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) by 6 1/4 lengths. Owned by Mike Repole and conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, Fierceness won at odds of 16-1 and paid $35.00 on a $2 win wager.
“Look, not everyone would do that (enter this race off a seventh-place finish in the Champagne (G1)),” Pletcher explained. “We talked about it, we covered every base after the Champagne. The horse trained awesome all summer (at Saratoga); he was a monster since his debut. We took a shot today and it worked out. He had a beautiful trip and he showed what he is all about. A lot of the tactics in a race like this, you have to leave in your rider's hands. I could make a case for five horses being the pacesetter, possibly. It was really about getting in a good rhythm with him and letting him get comfortable with him. (John Velazquez) was able to do that. It did look easy. It was a helluva race. Very impressive.”
Fierceness, a homebred for Repole, sat a perfect stalking trip to complete 1 1/16 miles over Santa Anita's fast main track in 1:41.90. It is the 15th Breeders' Cup winner for Pletcher (fourth in the Juvenile), 20th for Velazquez (second in Juvenile), and second Juvenile winner for Repole (Uncle Mo in 2010). It is also Repole's first homebred Breeders' Cup winner.
The win earns Fierceness 30 points on the Road to the 2024 Kentucky Derby; Repole, whose 2022 Juvenile winner Forte was scratched on the morning of this year's Run for the Roses, joked during the post-race interview that he might skip the first Saturday in May in 2024.
Muth was second best, while Locked engaged late to finish third.
General Partner was sharp out of the gate, heading out to the lead but slowing things down in the first turn. The first quarter went in 23.25 seconds, as compared to 22.47 two races earlier in the Juvenile Fillies. Fierceness kept General Partner company all the way down the backstretch, never more than three-quarters of a length off the leader as General Partner clocked the half in :47.02.
That leading pair was followed by Muth and stablemate Wine Me Up, while to wagering choices Timberlake (3-1) and Locked (2-1) traveled in sixth and last, respectively.
General Partner sped up around the far turn, but he was getting out a bit and couldn't keep pace with Fierceness when Velazquez sent his colt for the lead. Muth wound up rallying three wide to challenge Fierceness, but the eventual winner was well clear after a handful of strides.
Fierceness powered home with ease, crossing the wire 6 1/4 lengths the best. Muth settled for second, while Locked engaged late to finish third. Those three were followed home by Timberlake, Prince of Monaco, General Partner, Cuban Thunder, Wine Me Up, and Noted.
“I had a perfect trip,” said winning rider John Velazquez. “We were concerned a little about the break. He behaved well in the gate and broke well. He went forwardly and sat second nicely. Once we passed the half-mile pole, he grabbed into the bridle a little sooner than I wanted. When he got to the quarter-pole, he started looking around so I got after him. He was running down the stretch and got serious once I got after him. I had no doubt (I was going to win.) I worked him in the morning and I was very impressed and I was hoping he would put the same work in the afternoon.”
Fierceness is a second-generation homebred for Mike Repole, foaled in Kentucky out of the winning Stay Thirsty mare Nonna Bella. Stay Thirsty won the G1 Travers for Repole in 2011 and the G1 Cigar Mile in 2012; Nonna Bella is a half-sister to Repole's Grade 1 winner and sire Outwork (Uncle Mo).
Now two-for-three in his young career, Fierceness boasts earnings of over $1.2 million.
Fierceness captures the $2 Million @FanDuel #BreedersCup Juvenile pres. by @TBAftercare! Congrats to the connections on a thrilling #FutureStarsFriday victory! pic.twitter.com/rQSmN1o5Kc
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) November 3, 2023
The post Fierceness Rebounds Brilliantly In Breeders’ Cup Juvenile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
