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Travers ‘The Logical Spot’ For Peter Pan Winner Country Grammer

Following a victory in Opening Day's Grade 3 Peter Pan at Saratoga Race Course, Country Grammer is a likely candidate for the Grade 1, $1 million Runhappy Travers on August 8, according to his connections.

Owned by Paul Pompa, Jr. and trained by Chad Brown, the 3-year-old son of second crop sire Tonalist notched his first graded stakes score in the 1 1/8-mile event for sophomores over the main track. Guided by Irad Ortiz, Jr., Country Grammer broke sharply from post 2, tracked in fourth off a moderate pace, found an opening along the rail around the far turn and established command at the top of the stretch holding off Caracaro to win by a neck, registering a 95 Beyer Speed Figure.

“If he comes back well, the Travers would be the logical spot. It's coming back a little soon but so far, so good,” Pompa, Jr. said. “We always have liked this horse, but the COVID-19 situation has created gaps, just due to lack of racing.”

Country Grammer arrived at the Peter Pan off a third-place finish against allowance company at Belmont Park, running 6 ½ lengths to eventual Belmont Stakes fifth-place finisher Tap It To Win. After a fourth place finish in his career debut on grass, he switched to the main track, breaking his maiden by 3 ½ lengths at Aqueduct going the Peter Pan distance.

Pompa, Jr. said the 1 1/4-mile Runhappy Travers should suit Country Grammer.

“Chad always liked him, but he never trained well at Belmont for some reason,” said Pompa, Jr. “We knew he would appreciate going two turns. Should we go to the Travers, we think the extra eighth of a mile is to his advantage.”

Country Grammer, bred in Kentucky by Scott Pierce and Debbie Pierce, is out of the Forestry broodmare Arabian Song and his third dam Willstar produced Group 1 winner on turf Etoile Montante. He was purchased for $450,000 at the OBS April Sale in 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, where he was consigned by Wavertree Stables.

Should Country Grammer move forward to the Runhappy Travers, he would be Pompa Jr.'s second contender in the “Mid Summer Derby”. In 2016, he owned sixth-place finisher Connect, who went on to defeat that year's Kentucky Derby top three finishers in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby en route to a Grade 1 Cigar Mile triumph.

“He beat a real tough field in the Pennsylvania Derby that year,” Pompa, Jr. said. “There were a lot of serious horses in the race that year and it was the first year they made it a Grade 1. Exaggerator, Nyquist and Gun Runner were all in there, so he beat a really nice field.”

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Son Of Speedy Boarding Debuts

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today’s Observations features the first foal of a Group 1-winning mare.

1.05 Newbury, Novice, £6,400, 2yo, 7fT
LEGEND OF DUBAI (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was a 500,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and is the first foal out of the G1 Prix Jean Romanet and G1 Prix de l’Opera heroine Speedy Boarding (GB) (Shamardal). Roger Varian introduces the March-foaled bay in an intriguing maiden featuring several prospective Classic types including Qatar Racing’s Rushmore (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), another 500,000gns Book 1 buy who is an Andrew Balding-trained half-brother to the GII Glens Falls S. winner Mrs Sippy (Blame), and Juddmonte’s fellow newcomer Maximal (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, he is a half-brother to last year’s G1 Coronation S. third Jubiloso (GB) (Shamardal) from the family of Frankel (GB).

4.15 Curragh, Mdn, €17,000, 2yo, 7fT
WEMBLEY (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) takes centre stage in this maiden that Aidan O’Brien has won six times in the last nine years, including with Australia (GB) in 2013. A full-brother to the G1 Criterium International winner Johannes Vermeer (Ire) and last year’s G2 Debutante S. runner-up Petite Mustique (Ire), the January-foaled bay caught the eye when finishing third in a course-and-distance maiden on June 28. He is joined by the stable’s newcomer HMS Seahorse (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a full-brother to last year’s G2 Futurity S. winner Armory (Ire).

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Brisnet.com Triple Crown Throwdown: Haskell

Ed DeRosa of Brisnet.com takes on TDN’s Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato as they handicap Triple Crown prep races plus the big three races themselves. The three will make $100 Win/Place bets in the preps and $200 Win/Place bets in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. Highest bankroll at the end wins.

DeRosa – Peter Pan Result – Country Grammer got the money in game fashion. Bankroll: $4960.

GI Haskell S. – Going to take a chance here with Jesus’ Team, who is right in the mix with all other contenders based on most recent form and maybe can find improvement going 1 1/8 miles first time. I love what his sire Tapiture has done from limited opportunities and at the price point, and maybe Jesus’ Team can be that sire’s breakout horse. Authentic took a step back last out and Dr. Post likely underlaid as the obvious alternative to favorite. Selection: #3 Jesus’ Team (15-1).

Sherack – Peter Pan Result – Mystic Guide could do no better than third as the chalk. Bankroll: $3135.

GI Haskell S. – I really need a bomb to get back in this thing, but this isn’t the race for it. Even with all the speed signed on, Authentic should still be awfully tough to beat for Mr. Haskell, Bob Baffert. Selection: #2 Authentic (4-5).

DiDonato – Peter Pan Result – Country Grammer (+$750) needed a busy ride, but he saved all the ground and fought on nicely to get the job done. Bankroll: $5125.

GI Haskell S. – I’ve been high on Dr Post for a while, and picked him in the Belmont. He took another step forward that day to be second, and catches an easier group this time while likely to get a huge pace set-up. There’s tons of other speed signed on here, which figures to compromise favorite Authentic’s chances as much as it’s going to help Dr Post. Barring some scratches, bad breaks or odd tactics, Dr Post will win this race. Selection: #1 Dr Post (5-2).

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Hesmonds To Sell Yearling Farm

Hesmonds Stud has listed for sale its yearling preparation base Tourles Farm at East Hoathly, near Lewes in East Sussex.

The 114-acre farm has been the subject of significant investment as of late, and the facilities include a yearling preparation centre, a four furlong gallop, a 20 metre by 40 metre schooling ring, lunge ring, 25-box barn and a three bedroom cottage.

Hesmonds Studs was purchased in 2010 by Nurlan Bizakov, who has made substantial investments in the property and also purchased Monfort et Preaux in Normandy, France last year.

Windsor Clive International is handling the sale, and that firm’s William Harford said, “Tourles Farm is one of the best presented farms we have offered in recent years. It’s extensive range of facilities dictate that Tourles will attract interest from every quarter of the professional, equine world.”

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