Originally based in England, trainer John Sadler's long-fused Missed the Cut went from turf to dirt on Sunday at Santa Anita and responded with his first stateside victory, winning by 5½ lengths going 1 1/2 miles in the $100,000 Tokyo City Cup (G3).
Confidently ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Missed the Cut completed the trip in 2:32.78.
With a field of 3-yera-olds and up reduced to four runners by the late scratch of Donner Lake, Rispoli was intent on attending the pace set by Bob Baffert's Azul Coast, who showed the way to the quarter pole while Missed the Cut saved ground at the rail. The winner then swung three-wide outside of both Azul Coast and Kiss Today Goodbye, who wrested control from the pacesetter turning for home.
At that point, Missed the Cut was ready for his best as he sailed by Kiss Today Goodbye under mild hand urging and appeared to find his best stride late in a dominant effort.
Most recently a close fourth going 1 3/8 miles on grass in the Del Mar Handicap (G2) Sept. 2, Missed the Cut was off at 3-5 and paid $3.20.
Owned by Bee Zee LLC, Lanes End Racing, St. Elias Stables LLC, Edward Babington, Edward Hudson, and Lynne Hudson, Missed the Cut, a 4-year-old Quality Road colt out of the Elusive Quality mare Beauly, had three minor stakes wins on grass in England at age three and is now 11-5-1-0 overall. With the winner's share of $60,000, he increased his earnings to $285,777. He was bred in Kentucky by Framont Ltd.
Ridden by Hector Berrios, Kiss Today Goodbye bested Azul Coast by 4¼ lengths for second. Order and Law was fourth to complete the order of finish.
Fractions on the race were :24.65, :49.79, 1:15.23, 1:41.67, and 2:07.39.
TOKYO CITY CUP QUOTES
JOCKEY UMBERTO RISPOLI, MISSED THE CUT, WINNER: “I was loaded all the way. He relaxed for me behind the speed and when I asked him in the stretch he responded. Very nice effort.”
TRAINER JOHN SADLER, MISSED THE CUT, WINNER: “He's a horse that can run long distance. He had a good race here in the spring before we went to Del Mar, he showed he liked the main track. This is his fourth start (stateside), so his whole story isn't written yet, but it was a good race for him today. I'd like to thank the Japanese Racing Association for putting on a nice show. I had a good time with them in London with the Longines World Championships, great connections here today.
“He might be a good horse for an international race, he's already run in England and Saudi Arabia so who knows.”
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