The winner broke his maiden at first asking by 3/4 length at Keeneland Oct. 7, but could not keep the streak going when he was late getting to the wire as the runner-up at Churchill Downs Nov. 25.

Facing only four others as the well-backed 4-5 choice here, the grey took up a spot to the outside in the second flight up the backstretch. The colt fanned three-wide around the far turn and began to drive home with the lead secured just before the eighth pole. Fully extended and flashing even more speed in the shadow of the wire, the 3-year-old got the money and his first black-type win. Iridescent (City of Light) was second by 5 1/4 lengths.

Brad Cox's assistant Dustin Dugas said about his barn's entries, “I told both jockeys that it's a small field and to play it how it comes. It looked like there would be more speed in there than we had to offer, and they both rode their horses really well. I'm happy with both performances, but Bergen is a really cool horse and he's a very forward horse in his training and his races. He likes what he does. Trevor [McCarthy] worked him two breezes back and he came back with some really good feedback, so we used that today.”

The winner's dam is responsible for GI Test S. heroine Chi Town Lady (Verrazano), a 2-year-old filly named Aledean (Game Winner), who sold to Greg Tramontin for $600,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale, and a yearling filly by Not This Time. She visited Justify for this season.

JIMMY WINKFIELD S., $97,000, Aqueduct, 1-27, 3yo, 6f, 1:12.63, my.
1–BERGEN, 118, c, 3, by Liam's Map
                1st Dam: Toni's Hollyday (SP, $119,047), by Harlan's Holiday
                2nd Dam: May Day Vow, by Broken Vow
                3rd Dam: May Day Bluff, by Pine Bluff
($205,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP; $375,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Spendthrift Farm LLC, Martin Schwartz, Gandharvi LLC, Big Easy Racing LLC, Rick Kanter, James J. Bakke, Titletown Racing Stables, Kueber Racing, LLC, Golconda Stable, Ali Goodrich and Mark Parkinson; B-Castleton Lyons, Kilboy Estate & Gavin Tierney (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Manuel Franco. $55,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $136,975. *1/2 to Chi Town Lady (Verrazano), GISW, $462,913.
2–Iridescent, 118, c, 3, City of Light–Resolu, by Smart Strike. ($150,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/T-David Jacobson; B-Dixiana Farms LLC (KY). $20,000.
3–Air Cav, 118, c, 3, Mitole–In a Cloud, by Elusive Quality. ($125,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Calumet Farm; B-Highlight Thoroughbreds & Haugh Stables (KY); T-Brad Cox. $12,000.
Margins: 5 1/4, 6 3/4, 5. Odds: 0.90, 3.85, 5.50.
Also Ran: El Divino Nino, Stolen Magic.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

BERGEN, the 3YO son of @LanesEndFarms stallion Liam's Map, wins the Jimmy Winkfield Stakes with @jockeyfranco aboard for trainer @bradcoxracing. pic.twitter.com/6WC0wqiCZv

— NYRA () (@TheNYRA) January 27, 2024

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Now Schwartz and DeVaux send PURLOIN (Arrogate) to the post looking for a similar outcome. A $200,000 Keeneland September purchase by Midnight Bloodstock, the gray filly went for $400,000 during the OBS April Sale with DeVaux signing the ticket after she went 10 2/5 during the under-tack show.

Other runners making their debut here include Cheyenne Stable homebred Style Points (Oscar Performance), who is out of GII New York S. heroine Mystical Star (Ghostzapper). The Christophe Clement trainee is also up against Public Assembly (More Than Ready), a $300,000 Keeneland September buy for Peter Brant and trainer Chad Brown. The chestnut filly's dam is a full-sister to two-time GIII Fred W. Hooper H. victor Csaba (Kitten's Joy).

Finally, Don Alberto homebred Lucevan La Stelle (Noble Mission {GB}), whose second dam is a full-sister to G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Henrythenavigator (Kingmambo), goes out for Tom Albertrani. TJCIS PPS

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Zarak is France's leading first-season sire with 18 winners, two stakes winners and two Group 1-placed fillies, including Purplepay (Fr), who was sold for €2-million to Roy and Gretchen Jackson of Lael Stable at Arqana December.

A 1/50 share in a member of the same sire cohort, Almanzor (Fr), also attracted attention during the sale, eventually settling at €160,000 to Didier Krainc of Ecurie Vivaldi. Almanzor, Europe's champion 3-year-old of 2016, has had eight winners this season.

A 1/50 share in Dariyan (Fr) sold for €21,000, while a breeding right to Group 1 sire Territories (Ire) sold for €26,000.

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“I was concerned turning into the straight and she seemed to meet every bit of trouble she could, but she has a turn of foot,” Twomey said. “She's a filly who does what she has to do and it's great that she won the way she did. She's a smart filly and displayed that to everybody today–we are lucky to have her. Marty had intimated that he'd like to go to France for the group 1 and Del Mar with her, but I managed to talk him out of it. I bypassed the Weld Park, as I didn't want her to have a penalty when she tackles a Guineas trial next year. We won this last year and I wanted to come here as I think it's a perfect stepping stone for the Guineas.”

“I thought the extra furlong would suit her today and the slower ground didn't seem to inconvenience her,” Twomey added. “The owner would very much like to go for the Breeders' Cup, but the trainer is trying to put the brakes on. She is a big filly who is progressive and we've purposely picked her spots with next year in mind. She'll have an entry in both the Guineas here and at Newmarket.”

Limiti di Greccio further advertises the prowess of her Ballyhane Stud-based sire, becoming his sixth black-type winner. Her dam is the unraced Grotta Del Fauno (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) whose immediate family features the Italian listed-placed Abruzzo Nel Cuore (Ire) (La Vie dei Colori {GB}). The family includes the G2 Premio Ribot winner Duca D'Atri (Ire) (Dr Devious {Ire}) and the dual G3 Gran Premio Citta di Napoli winner Guado D'Annibale (Glint of Gold {GB}). Grotta Del Fauno's yearling filly is by Camacho (GB), while she also has a colt foal by Profitable (Ire).

STAFFORDSTOWN STUD S.-Listed, €37,500, Curragh, 10-10, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:44.72, yl.
1–LIMITI DI GRECCIO (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Elzaam (Aus)
     1st Dam: Grotta Del Fauno (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Conca Peligna (GB), by Persian Bold (Ire)
     3rd Dam: When Lit (Ire), by Northfields
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Martin Schwartz; B-Leaf Stud (IRE); T-Paddy Twomey; J-Billy Lee. €22,500. Lifetime Record: 5-2-2-0, $65,711.
2–Tranquil Lady (Ire), 128, f, 2, Australia (GB)–Repose, by Quiet American. (€30,000 RNA Wlg '19 GOFNOV; £160,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-Teme Valley; B-Tinnakill Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €7,500.
3–Sunset Shiraz (Ire), 128, f, 2, Time Test (GB)–Sunny Again (GB), by Shirocco (Ger). (£100,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-Lindsay Laroche; B-Mount Coote Estates (IRE); T-Gavin Cromwell. €3,750.
Margins: 1 1/4, NO, 5HF. Odds: 1.88, 5.00, 3.00.
Also Ran: Alizarine (GB), Viareggio (Ire), Willesee (GB), Angels Wrath (Ire), Lullaby (Ire), Past Time (GB), Cyclamen (Ire), She's Trouble (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result.

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It was a tale of two trips with James Aloysius (c, 2, More Than Ready–Olorda {Ger}, by Lord of England {Ger}) having to settle for an educational second on debut behind the well-meant firster Portfolio Company (Kitten's Joy) going 1 1/16 miles over the Saratoga lawn on opening weekend (video).

Off at 4-1, the rail-drawn dark bay brushed with a rival just after the start, and, after slightly tapping on the brakes in some early traffic passing the stands for the first time, settled in sixth beneath Luis Saez as the aforementioned favorite stalked in second behind easy fractions of :25.15 and :50.86 over the “good” going.

James Aloysius began to launch a flashy, three-wide blitz on the far turn as the Chad Brown-trained Portfolio Company enjoyed first run and hit the front at the top of the stretch. James Aloysius continued to rally nicely in the lane despite repeatedly getting in and cut the final margin to 3/4 of a length. He earned a 71 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“He's a nice colt, just a little green,” trainer Danny Gargan said. “I'm not really a first-time starter kind of person. We told the jock to break and get a good position and just make sure that he's running turning for home. Luis said if he had hit him left-handed instead of right-handed, he would've won the race. He just shied from it, and got on top of those other horses for a minute. He's a pretty talented colt.”

He continued, “Chad told me probably six weeks before the race that the Kitten's Joy was a nice horse and that he thinks he's gonna be a really good horse. He's really high on him. So, hopefully we'll be around somewhere in the fall.”

Bred in Kentucky by Martin Schwartz, James Aloysius is the first foal out of Olorda, a two-time Grade III winner in the U.S. and a Group 3 winner in France. She was also third in the 2015 G1 Pour Moi Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary. James Aloysius brought $200,000 from Oracle Bloodstock, agent, on behalf of West Paces Racing LLC at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“He's named after the owner [Larry Connolly]'s brother who passed away and another friend of theirs,” Gargan said. “One of them was named James and the other's last name was Aloysius.”

As for what's next for the equine James Aloysius, Gargan said, “I don't run back fast–I run every seven-eight weeks. We're probably gonna aim to get a race into him towards the end of the meet. Hopefully, if everything goes as planned, that's what we're shooting for.”

Gargan concluded, “We like him a lot. I'm pretty lucky this year. We have a little better stock than we normally do baby wise, so that's exciting.”

Previous standouts featured in 'Second Chances' include: GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Honor A. P. (Honor Code), GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner and Royal Ascot G2 Norfolk S. runner-up Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Paradise Woods (Union Rags), GIII Las Virgenes S. heroine Moonlight d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), GII Los Alamitos Futurity winner and MGISP Spielberg (Union Rags), GSW Backyard Heaven (Tizway), and MSW and 'TDN Rising Star' Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

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Bluewater Sales will consign the four-year-old old filly on behalf of owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Martin S. Schwartz, and CHC Inc.

Valiance, trained by Todd Pletcher, has won six of her eight career starts to date and earned $469,575. She has won her last three starts since this summer, including the Eatontown Stakes on Aug. 29, followed by the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes on Oct. 4. In the Spinster, she defeated a top-class field that included Grade 1 winner Ollie's Candy, and recent Kentucky Oaks victress Shedaresthedevil.

Valiance's next anticipated start is the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff on Nov. 7 in Lexington.

“Eclipse has been fortunate to sell several seven-figure mares, including a $3 million sales-topper, at Fasig-Tipton's Night of the Stars and it's only fitting for Valiance to be one of the next in line,” said Aron Wellman, President and Founder of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. “Our partnership, including Marty Schwartz and her breeder, China Horse Club, acquired Valiance at the Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale and she's been a joy to be associated with, taking us to the top of the mountain. Valiance is regally-bred, a gorgeous physical, and she's a top shelf performer on dirt and turf. We are hoping for another positive result in the Breeders' Cup Distaff and to then showcase her at the historic Newtown Paddocks.”

A daughter of leading sire Tapit, Valiance was purchased for $650,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale.  Her dam Last Full Measure, by Empire Maker, captured the Grade 1 Madison Stakes on her way to career earnings of $293,245. Valiance's second dam, Lazy Slusan, was a multiple Grade 1 winning distaffer and millionaire.

“It is always exciting to offer fillies in top current form,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “A daughter of Tapit with a fantastic pedigree will be highly desirable to the sport's leading buyers and owners.”

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Campaigning for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Martin Schwartz and CHC Inc., Valiance had no trouble handling the dirt at Keeneland in the fall meet's biggest race for fillies and mares, the Spinster.  In addition to its G1 status and $400,000 purse, the Spinster had the added benefit of being a Win and You're In Challenge Series race for the Breeders' Cup Distaff, to be run at the Lexington, Ky., track on Nov. 7 as part of the two-day world championships.

Coming from off the pace while kept in the clear by Luis Saez, Valiance battled past the 3-year-old Shedaresthedevil, winner of the G1 Kentucky Oaks, in a stretch duel, then held off a furious late charge from Ollie's Candy to win by three-quarters of a length.

Valiance, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Tapit out of G1 Madison Stakes winner Last Full Measure, by Empire Maker, stopped the timer in 1:49.76 and paid $14.80 for the win. She was bred by China Horse Club International Ltd.

Unlucky Ollie's Candy, with four consecutive narrow defeats in G1 races for trainer John Sadler, finished second, with 6-5 favorite Shedaresthedevil third. Completing the order of finish were Lady Kate, Saracosa and Our Super Freak.

Shedaresthedevil outhustled  Lady Kate for the lead under Florent Geroux and set fractions of :23.62, :46.97 and 1:10.85 for six furlongs. Lady Kate was lapped to her outside much of the way, with Ollie's Candy tucked behind the leader along the rail and Valiance three paths off the rail and in the clear.

With Lady Kate still in pursuit of the leader on the turn for home, Valiance ranged up three-wide and took on the Oaks winner. Joel Rosario, aboard Ollie's Candy, had to bide his time behind the top pair before swinging off the rail when Lady Kate began to fade.

Valiance gradually edged past Shedaresthedevil and opened a clear lead in the final furlong, but Ollie's Candy began to eat up ground though came up short in the end.

The win was the sixth for Valiance in eight starts. She was purchased for $650,000 by Eclipse and Schwartz from the Bluewater Sales consignment at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale.

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