In a race meant as a prep for next month's GI Pegasus World Cup, O'Connor (Chi) (Boboman) staked his claim for potential favoritism with a gusty win in the GIII Harlan's Holiday S.
Favored in this same race a year ago, the Chilean import disappointed when fourth behind MGISP Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) and was thus never a factor as Art Collector (Bernardini) cruised to the Pegasus win to kick off 2023. O'Connor has spent the rest of his 6-year-old season hitting the board in graded-stakes races around the East Coast and finally broke through for his first North American graded success last out when he defeated Il Miracolo (Gun Runner) by a head in the GI Hagyard Fayette S. at Keeneland Oct. 28.
Caught three-wide into the firsts turn as the field fanned across the track, Tyler Gaffalione chose to take back and eased O'Connor into a stalking trip as NY Traffic (Cross Traffic) and Grand Aspen (Dialed In) battled it out up front into the backstretch. Positioned mid pack in fifth, the 7-2 shot had a clear view of the leaders through a :47.12 opening half and took aim with rail-skimming move midway around the far turn. The top three spun into the stretch with Grand Aspen appearing to have the better chance but NY Traffic and O'Connor battled back with the 6-year-old finishing nicely to just nail Grand Aspen on the line in a tight finish.
“Last year, I didn't think he could get beat,” said winning trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. “I've learned the least I know the better I do. Fast forward one year and we got the job done. We're proud of him, obviously. He's a horse that's won 2 in a row now and he's doing what we thought he could do.”
Jockey @Tyler_Gaff pilots #6 O'CONNOR (CHI) ($9.20) up the rail for their victory in the GIII
Harlan's Holiday at Gulfstream Park. Congratulations to the @SaffieJosephJr barn and all of the connections. pic.twitter.com/MvnXb3LJkT
— TVG (@TVG) December 30, 2023
Pedigree Note:
O'Connor, a winner at the highest level and Horse of the Year in his native Chile, is one of seven stakes winner for GI Hollywood Derby hero Boboman and out of a winning dam who has produced four other winners from five to race. From a deep South American family, O'Connor counts champion older mare in Chile Sacramentada (Chi) (Northair) as his third dam. She would also produce GISW and $3m KEENOV broodmare Hystericalady (Distorted Humor), the dam of GSW/GISP Lady Montdore (Medaglia d'Oro). O'Connor has only one younger sibbling–a 5-year-old unraced half-brother named Totoi (Chi) (Caesario {Ire}).
Saturday, Gulfstream Park
HARLAN'S HOLIDAY S.-GIII, $150,000, Gulfstream, 12-30, 3yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:43.80, ft.
1–O'CONNOR (CHI), 126, h, 6, by Boboman
1st Dam: Torrente de Agua (Chi), by Touch Gold
2nd Dam: Torrey Pines, by Woodman
3rd Dam: Sacramentada (Chi), by Northair
O-Michael & Julia C Iavarone & Fernando Vine Ode; B-Haras
Carioca (CHI); T-Saffie A Joseph Jr; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $88,350.
Lifetime Record: Horse of the Year, Ch. Older Horse & G1SW-
Chi, 27-12-7-3, $749,319. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com
catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Grand Aspen, 121, c, 4, Dialed In–Lady Aspen, by Grand
Reward. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-PRO
Thorughbred Enterprises (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher. $28,500.
3–Ny Traffic, 121, h, 6, Cross Traffic–Mamie Reilly, by Graeme
Hall. ($27,000 RNA 2yo '19 EASMAY). O-John Fanelli, Cash is
King LLC, LC Racing LLC, Paul Braverman & Team Hanley;
B-Brian Culnan (NY); T-Saffie A Joseph Jr. $14,250.
Margins: NK, 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.60, 10.40, 5.80.
Also Ran: Steal Sunshine, Octane, Dubyuhnell, Blue Devil, Gasoline, Lure Him In, Miles D. Scratched: Signator. Click for the Equibase.com chart, PPs or the VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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