In a thrilling edition of the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes Sept.
Tag: Racing
Ancient Rome Strikes For First U.S. Win In Mint Millions At Kentucky Downs
Twice Group 1-placed in France, Kentucky-bred Ancient Rome made an auspicious U.S. debut Saturday when striking for victory in the $2-million Mint Millions (G3) Saturday at Kentucky Downs.
Uncoiling a determined outside rally under Jamie Spencer after rating in fourth then fifth through a half mile, the War Front colt was all out for a half-length triumph over pacesetter Stitched, who outfinished Smokin' T by a head for second.
Ancient Rome returned $15.31 after covering the one-mile trip in 1:33.37 on turf rated as firm.
Trained by Charlie Hills for Mrs. Fitri Hay, Ancient Rome has a 6-3-2 career line from 16 starts. The $1,176,600 winner's share of the Mint Millions purse lifted his lifetime bankroll to $1,528,247.
Bred by Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt, Ancient Rome is out of the Sadler's Wells mare Gagnoa.
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Secret Money Upstages Favorite Danse Macabre In Music City
Secret Money fired for her first stakes win Saturday when annexing the $1-million Big Ass Fans Music City (G3) for 3-year-old fillies at Kentucky Downs.
Sent off at 5-1 odds under Tyler Gaffalione, Secret Money easily held back favorite and runner-up Danse Macabre for a one-length triumph while rebounding with aplomb from a third-place finish in the Lake George (G3) July 21 at Saratoga.
The daughter of Good Samaritan covered 6½ furlongs in 1:15.14 on firm turf and returned $12.98.
Bling was second, three-quarters of length behind Danse Macabre.
Secret Money, trained by Brendan Walsh, has won half of her six career starts and earned $585,960, improving her lifetime earnings to $740,811. She is campaigned by Fortune Farm LLC (Richard Nicolai), Robert G. Hahn, and Matthew Hand.
Produced by Grade 1 winner Awesome Humor, by Distorted Humor, she was bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm LLC.
Music City Quotes
Tyler Gaffalione, winning jockey Secret Money: “It feels amazing to win that kind of race here. Brendan has done a great job with that filly. He said he was pointing for this race a couple months back. And he brought her over ready to run. As soon as a spot opened up, she didn't hesitate. She ran right through and finished up very well. It all has to come together. You have to have the trip, have to have the luck. Everything has to fall into place and luckily it did for us today.”
Brendan Walsh, winning trainer Secret Money: “She's been very good all year. She hasn't put a foot wrong really. She had a horrible trip at Woodbine a couple of starts back. Came back, we decided we'd try to stretch her out, see if she'd get the mile at Saratoga. She ran really well, didn't quite get home, but ran a very respectable third in very good company. We always had this race in the back of our mind all year, the 6 1/2 we felt would hit her right between the eyes. Thankfully it did. I'm delighted. It's a great group of owners. It's Richard's first time here at Kentucky Downs, so it's been a great experience for him.
“Tyler gave her a great ride as usual.”
(On purse being raised to $1 million): “Absolutely. We're always thankful for a few bucks extra. Listen, it was great. This has always been a lucky track for us. It's nice to come and win a nice race like this.”
Richard Nicolai, winning co-owner, Secret Money and winning his first $1-million race in first trip to Kentucky Downs: “It feels great, let me tell you. I have good partners and a great trainer. A lot of patience. This filly really did her work for us today. I thought she had a tough race ahead of her, but she made it look easy, to be honest with you. We're really thrilled.”
“I love this place, and I love it a lot more after winning. It's a real experience, and they did a great job at this place. I can't wait to come back.”
Kelsey Danner, trainer, runner-up Danse Macabre: “She ran great. She just got beat. It was a great race.
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Bright Future Repels Proxy in Jockey Club Gold Cup Thriller, Earns Breeders’ Cup Classic Berth
Bright Future delivered a career-defining performance Saturday at Saratoga when grabbing the lead into the stretch, then digging in to barely hold off hard-charging Proxy and win the $1-million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) in a thriller.
After tracking pacesetter Warrior Johny from second early, the Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable colorbearer landed the first stakes victory of his career by a nose under Javier Castellano and entered off an allowance victory July 21 at the Spa.
Bright Future, a 4-year-old son of Curlin, returned $9.50 to win after covering 1¼ miles in 2:03 flat.
Proxy held on for second and Tyson was third.
The Jockey Club Gold Cup is a Breeders' Cup Challenge “Win And You're In” qualifier, and Proxy gained automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) on November 4 at Santa Anita.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Bright Future has a 4-0-0 record from seven career starts.
Bright Future was bred in Kentucky by Clearsky Farms. Produced by the Bellamy Road mare Sophia's Song, his breeder sold him for $250,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Jockey Club Gold Cup Quotes
Todd Pletcher, winning trainer of Bright Future (No. 8, $9.50): “He's a horse that we've always thought a lot of. I've got to give the Violas and the Repoles [owners] a lot of credit because we've had to kind of tap on the brakes a few times along the way and they gave him time to develop. We probably got a little ambitious when we tried the Brooklyn, maybe didn't have quite the foundation to be ready to go a mile and a half at that stage. We regrouped with the allowance race here and I thought it was a powerful performance, so from that time on we've been pointing for this and the horse has trained exceptionally well. Coming into it, we were optimistic he was ready to make a move forward.
“It wasn't real clear how much speed there was on paper. So, we wanted to get into the race and get into a good position, get in a good rhythm which he was able to do.
“Javier [Castellano] has had a phenomenal year. He's making all the right decisions and it is great to see him back in top form after taking some time off for an injury. He's riding as good as ever.
“It was a good spot to try a Grade 1 and he delivered a big performance. In order to go to the next one, he's going to need to make another move forward. It appears to be pretty wide open, the older horse division. I guess we will learn a little more in California tomorrow or Monday. We'll see.”
On a potential next start in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic on November 4 at Santa Anita Park: “I would think so. I doubt we'd do anything in between.”
Mike Repole, winning co-owner of Bright Future (No. 8): “Just a really nice effort. A horse we had high hopes for last year. He's a Curlin. He was winning at a mile, so we decided to try him in the Brooklyn and we looked at each other and said, 'What were we doing?' Something happened that day but there's nothing wrong. He didn't work well, but he got the two starts here and he backed up his last win very impressively.
“He's a Curlin. I had a horse by Curlin named Vino Rosso that couldn't put it together at three, but now [Bright Future] has put it together at four. I named the horse Bright Future for a reason. I knew he was going to be a later 3-year-old, 4-year-old horse and so far his name is fitting right now.”
Javier Castellano, winning jockey aboard Bright Future (No. 8): “I really like the way he did it and the way he finished. I had a lot of confidence after the way I rode the horse last time. He gave me the impression he was going to step up the ladder a little bit, the level. I had a lot of confidence because this is a good horse and I thought he can do it. I'm very happy that everything went through. I had a beautiful trip and a good post today. It worked out great.
“I felt great because we went pretty quick [early] and had to hustle a little bit to put him in a good spot because we were way, way outside. I took forward position and I could use my spot to get in the clear. I think that's why I used my horse a little bit but we backed it up a little bit just to give a little break. I think it was the key to win the race.”
On winning another Grade 1 this year: “Thank God. I've been blessed, very lucky and very fortunate to ride the best horses, especially with Todd Pletcher, one of the best trainers in the country. He gave me the opportunity to ride this horse and that's the key. Keep positive and working hard, and see everything come around.”
Joel Rosario, jockey of runner-up Proxy (No. 1): “He ran a big race. It was a very good performance for him. I don't think it was really quick [pace], but it seemed like it was OK for me there. He was more in the race like he did last time and when he's like that, he runs better. I was happy where he was.
“I thought for a second we got it done.”
Manny Franco, jockey of third-place Tyson (No. 6): “He ran a good race. The first two finishers are very good horses and it was the first time on the dirt for my horse. I was pleased with the way he run.”
Winning margin: nose
Final time (1 1/4 miles): 2:03
Fractions: 22.25, 48.86, 1:14.10, 1:38.59
Full order of finish: 8-1-6-5-7-4-3-2
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