Dr Post (Quality Road), runner-up in the June 20 GI Belmont S., and June 6 GI Santa Anita Derby runner-up Authentic (Into Mischief) are among nine 3-year-olds possible for the July 18 GI Haskell S. at Monmouth Park, with an additional two sophomore runners possible, according to director of racing and racing secretary John Heims and stakes coordinator Lynn T. Ott. This year’s edition of the nine-furlong race provides points toward the Sept. 5 GI Kentucky Derby in addition to serving as a “Win and You’re In” reward for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 7.
If all nine start, it will be the largest field for Monmouth’s signature race since 2014, when there were also nine starters.
Monmouth Park is also putting up a $1-million bonus for any horse that sweeps the Haskell, the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Ancient Warrior (Constitution), Ete Indien (Summer Front), Fame to Famous (Tapit), Jesus’ Team (Tapiture), Lebda (Raison D’Etat), Ny Traffic (Cross Traffic) and Sonneman (Curlin) are the other probables for the Haskell. The connections of Modernist (Uncle Mo) and Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) are also under consideration for the race.
If one or both of those decide to go it would mark the largest Haskell field since 11 started in the 1995 race.
Dr Post won a pair of races at Gulfstream Park this spring, including the Unbridled S. in April before his Belmont placing behind Tiz the Law (Constitution). Authentic won his first three career starts, including the GIII Sham S. Jan. 4 followed by the Mar. 7 GII San Felipe S. before finishing second to Honor A.P. (Honor Code) in the Santa Anita Derby.
Trainer Bob Baffert previously won the race in 2015 (American Pharoah), 2014 (Bayern), 2012 (Paynter), 2011 (Coil), 2010 (Lookin at Lucky), 2005 (Roman Ruler), 2002 (War Emblem) and 2001 (Point Given).
Sunday Racing Co.'s 4-year-old filly Chrono Genesis (JPN) pulled away in mid-stretch to win the US$3 million, 1 3/8-mile Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse near Osaka, Japan, on Sunday by a stakes-record six lengths. With her victory, Chrono Genesis, ridden by Yuichi Kitamura, earned an automatic berth and fees paid into the $6-million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) through the international Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.
The Breeders' Cup Challenge is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., on Nov. 6-7.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for Chrono Genesis to start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, which will be run at 1 1/2 miles over the Keeneland turf course. Breeders' Cup also will provide a travel allowance of US$40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.
Chrono Genesis becomes the third horse to gain a free berth into the 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, joining Gran Premio International Carlos Pellegrini (G1) winner Nao Da Mais (BRZ) and Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) winner Lord North (IRE).
Chrono Genesis, a gray daughter of Bago (FR) out of the Kurofune mare Chronologist (JPN) claimed her second Group 1 title after taking last year's Shuka Sho, the last jewel of the fillies Triple Crown.
Trained by Takashi Saito, Chrono Genesis completed the 1 3/8 miles in 2:13.50 over a course listed as good, as the 4-1 second choice in the 18-horse field.
Chrono Genesis, one of the only two female contenders in the race, broke smoothly out of stall 16 and settled around ninth from frontrunner Tosen Surya (JPN). Continuing to take a wide route rounding the last two turns, she advanced strongly to enter the lane in second behind 5-year-old mare Lucky Lilac (JPN), also entered by Sunday Racing.
Once assuming command 300 meters out, Chrono Genesis unleashed a powerful kick despite the somewhat soft going due to rain, leaving the field behind.
“The filly broke smoothly and we were able to travel in good rhythm in good striking position,” said winning rider Kitamura. “I didn't really have to urge her to go but she just went spontaneously. She was responding really well so I knew that she will stretch well in the lane. She has become a powerful filly and was in very good condition. She was really strong,”
Tatsue Ishikawa's 6-year-old Kiseki (JPN) stalked Chrono Genesis from her position in the middle of the field, but could not match her rally and was the runner-up for the second consecutive year. He finished five lengths ahead of longshot Mozu Bello (JPN).
Carrot Farm's 5-2 favorite Saturnalia (JPN), the 2019 Japanese 3-year-old Male Champion, broke smoothly, hugged the rail in 10thand angled out turning the last corner for the attack but was unable to exert his strong late kick due to the soft ground, finishing fourth. He was followed by longshot Meisho Tengen (JPN) in fifth. Lucky Lilac, the nearly 5-1 third choice, could not sustain a drive in the stretch and finished sixth.
Chrono Genesis improved her record to six wins in 11 starts. She won her seasonal debut against open company in the 1 3/8-mile Kyoto Kinen (G2) over a yielding course on Feb. 16 before finishing second to Lucky Lilac in the 1 1/4-mile Osaka Hai (G1) at Hanshin on April 5.
Chrono Genesis becomes the fourth Breeders' Cup Challenge Series winner in Japan this year. The 6-year-old Mozu Ascot was the first automatic qualifier, winning the February Stakes (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse on Feb. 23, and earned an automatic berth into the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic. The 5-year-old mare Almond Eye (JPN) won the Victoria Mile (G1) on May 17 and secured a free starting position into the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), and the 4-year-old filly Gran Alegria (JPN) took the Yasuda Kinen (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse on June 7 and a “Win and You're In” spot for the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).
Gayle Benson's 7-year-old Tom's d'Etat ($4.60) took control at the top of the stretch and swept to a 4 ¼-length victory under Miguel Mean in Saturday's Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., and earned an automatic berth into the $7-million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.
The Breeders' Cup Challenge is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, on Nov. 6-7.
Tom's d'Etat, a bay Kentucky-bred son of Smart Strike trained by Al Stall Jr., completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.30, which is the second fastest time in the history of the Stephen Foster. It was his fourth consecutive win, following victories last year in the Fayette (G2) at Keeneland, the Clark (G1) at Churchill Downs, and this year in the Oaklawn Mile at Oaklawn Park on April 11.
Tom's d'Etat, joins Capital System's Mozu Ascot, winner of the February Stakes (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse on Feb. 23, as the first two horses to earn automatic berths into the Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be run at 1 ¼ miles at Keeneland.
Benson, who races under the name of GMB Racing, is the owner of the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans.
Tom’s d’Etat made his case for one of the top older horses of 2020 with a blowout performance in Churchill’s GII Stephen Foster S. coming on the heels of three straight wins, including in last November’s GI Clark H. under the Twin Spires. Allowing longshot Pirate’s Punch (Shanghai Bobby) to dictate terms through initial fractions of :23.89 and :48.13, the 7-year-old loomed menacingly just to his outside before overtaking the pacesetter on the far turn following six furlongs in 1:11.67. Two lengths in front turning for home, the 6-5 choice continued to draw clear late. With rider Miguel Mena throwing a few crosses down the lane before standing up a few strides before the wire, Tom’s d’Etat was absolutely dominant, never leaving the outcome in doubt while crossing the wire 4 1/4 lengths ahead of By My Standards. The final time of 1:47.30 was the second-fastest time for the Stephen Foster, which is a Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re in’ for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic.
“We knew coming into this race he was a fresh horse but [he] ran so well fresh in the past,” said trainer Al Stall, Jr. “This will set him up to be in good shape for the rest of the year. I think he’ll benefit a lot from this race but we’ve sort of been waiting for this horse to get into form with the breaks in his races but he’s finally got there. That was a very impressive performance today.”
Now riding a four-race win streak, Tom’s d’Etat is lightly raced for his age. He first made it to the races as a 3-year-old and, beset by various minor setbacks, didn’t attempt his first black-type event until December of his 5-year-old season when he won the Tenacious S. at Fair Grounds. He had his most productive and prolific season last year as a 6-year-old when he captured the aforementioned GI Clark, as well as Keeneland’s GII Hagyard Fayette S. and Saratoga’s Alydar S. He was also placed in both the GII Alysheba S. and that year’s edition of the Stephen Foster. The bay made his 7-year-old debut with a win in the Apr. 11 Oaklawn Mile S., getting his seventh consecutive triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure.
Pedigree Notes:
One of 135 stakes winners (69 graded) for the late Smart Strike, Tom’s d’Etat is out of the black-type winning and graded-placed Giant’s Causeway mare Julia Tuttle. Her dam is a full-sister to Argentinean champion and U.S. leading sire Candy Ride (Arg) (Ride the Rails). Julia Tuttle’s last two foals have been a filly by Connect and a colt by Nyquist, respectively. Tom’s d’Etat is one of five stakes performers by Smart Strike out of Giant’s Causeway mares. The others include MGSW Family Tree and GSW Liam the Charmer.
Saturday, Churchill Downs STEPHEN FOSTER S.-GII, $500,000, Churchill Downs, 6-27, 4yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:47.30, ft.
1–TOM’S D’ETAT, 124, h, 7, by Smart Strike 1st Dam: Julia Tuttle (SW & GSP, $188,051), by Giant’s Causeway 2nd Dam: Candy Cane (Arg), by Ride the Rails 3rd Dam: Candy Girl (Arg), by Candy Stripes
($330,000 Ylg ’14 KEESEP). O-G M B Racing; B-SF Bloodstock
LLC (KY); T-Albert M. Stall, Jr.; J-Miguel Mena. $300,700.
Lifetime Record: GISW, 18-11-2-1, $1,627,272. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–By My Standards, 122, c, 4, Goldencents–A Jealous Woman,
by Muqtarib. ($150,000 2yo ’18 OBSAPR). O-Allied Racing
Stable, LLC; B-Don Ladd (KY); T-W. Bret Calhoun. $97,000. 3–Silver Dust, 120, g, 6, Tapit–Filare l’Oro, by Hard Spun.
($270,000 Ylg ’15 KEESEP; $510,000 2yo ’16 OBSMAR). O-Tom
R. Durant; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-W. Bret Calhoun.
$48,500.
Margins: 4 1/4, 2 3/4, 1. Odds: 1.30, 1.90, 27.80.
Also Ran: Multiplier, Owendale, Fearless, Pirate’s Punch, Alkhaatam. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
