Tag: Racing

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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Talk Of The Nation Bests Wadsworth For Gun Runner Triumph

Talk of the Nation unleashed a spirited stretch run and landed the most lucrative victory of his career in the $1-million Gun Runner for 3-year-olds Saturday at Kentucky Downs.

Under Jose Oritz, the Quality Road colt collared pacesetter Smokey Mandate nearing the final sixteenth, then held off the closing charge of Wadsworth to score by a half length.

Sent off the favorite in the eight-horse field, Talk of the Nation covered one-mile turf test in 1:32.93 on firm footing and returned $4.74.

Smokey Mandate finished third, 1 1/2 lengths behind Smokey Mandate.

Talk of the Nation scored a breakthrough stakes win March 11 in the Columbia Stakes at Tampa Bay Down and followed with a pair of runner-up finishes in the Jersey Derby June 3 and Manila Stakes (G3) in his graded debut July 7 in his start prior to the Gun Runner.

Campaigned by Joseph Allen and breeder China Horse Club and trained by Shug McGaughey, his overall record improved to 4-2-0 from seven starts. The $600,840 winner's share of the Gun Runner purse boosted his lifetime bankroll to $778,610.

Kentucky-bred Talk of the Nation was produced by the Street Cry mare She's Not Here.

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Alva Starr Emulates Half Sister In Winning Prioress, Provides Brinkman First Graded Score As Trainer

Alva Starr, bred by owner P. Dale Ladner and trainer Brett Brinkman, utilized a prominent trip engineered by Jose Lezcano to secure a powerful 8 3/4-length victory in Saturday's $250,000 Prioress (G2), a six-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies, at Saratoga Race Course.

It was the second Prioress score for Ladner, who won this event in 2021 with Alva Starr's half-sister by California Chrome, Cilla, who raced that day in trainer Charlton Baker's care when Brinkman didn't take out his New York license.

Alva Starr, a Lord Nelson bay, is out of the graded stakes-placed Into Mischief mare Sittin At the Bar, who was campaigned by Brinkman and Ladner. Alva Starr is also a half-sibling to multiple graded stakes-placed Club Car, and stakes-winner Jack the Umpire, all campaigned by the same connections.

Alva Starr arrived at her graded stakes debut from a 6 3/4-length romp in the six-furlong Dashing Beauty on July 8 at her Delaware Park base.

“This filly had not missed a beat since the Delaware race and we just felt really good coming into the race. It doesn't put us into the winner's circle, but we felt good about it,” said Brinkman, who secured both his first official graded win and first Spa score. “A lot of times good horses make it look easy, but they are running fast and she's got a quick turn of foot from a high cruising speed and that's all I told Jose when he worked her and when he got on her today. I said, 'Let her be who she wants to be, she is very manageable and use her assets.'”

Alva Starr emerged from a three-pronged battle for the lead with Jersey Pearl and Unified Alliance to mark the opening quarter-mile in :21.73 over the fast main track with Unsung Melody and 3-5 mutuel favorite Dazzling Blue tracking their early foot.

Alva Starr led to the turn as Joel Rosario rushed Dazzling Blue into second position through a half-mile in :44.64 and Jersey Pearl remained in contention while saving ground in third. Alva Starr opened up by 5 1/2-lengths at the stretch call to put away Dazzling Blue and drew off to a comfortable score in a final time of 1:09.14. Jersey Pearl completed the exacta by 2 1/2-lengths over Dazzling Blue with Unsung Melody and Unified Alliance completing the order of finish.

Lezcano worked Alva Starr a half-mile in 48.21 Sunday over the Spa main track in her final Prioress prep.

“I thought I worked her too slow, but when I checked the time she went :48 and change. She did it so easily and I felt I just galloped her out there,” Lezcano said. “The trainer told me to go like :49. I grabbed the bridle and she did it so easily. I knew she was very nice. Today, I watched her replays and she looked like a very fast filly. I was very impressed with her today. She's a very nice filly.”

Alva Starr graduated on debut last September at Delaware Park and returned to action in May with a runner-up effort to next-out stakes winner Unifying in an optional-claimer at Oaklawn Park. She followed with a close runner-up effort to Jersey Pearl in May in an optional claimer at Churchill Downs ahead of her recent stakes score.

The Darrin Miller-trained Jersey Pearl, who was fifth last out in the Test (G1) at the Spa, was game to the wire to complete the exacta under leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr.

“The winner ran away from me and was much the best today,” Ortiz said. “She felt great. We had three horses with speed, so I expected to be forwardly placed and I go from there.”

Brinkman said he could potentially point Alva Starr to the seven-furlong Raven Run (G2) on October 21 at Keeneland — a race Cilla finished third in following her Prioress score.

“We have a couple races marked out. We will go into Keeneland and see. I feel like she can get seven-eighths. The pedigree, you know, we'll see,” Brinkman said.

Alva Starr banked $137,500 in victory while improving her record to 5-3-2-0. She returned $9 for a $2 win bet.

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