tom's d'etat | Horse Racing Free Tips

Tom’s D’Etat Gains Breeders’ Cup Classic Spot With Stephen Foster Triumph

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.

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Easy Win for Tom’s d’Etat in the GII Stephen Foster

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.

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Tom Rides Hot Streak Into Foster

Tom’s d’Etat (Smart Strike) has been on a streak over the last few months and is heavily favored on the morning-line to secure his fourth straight victory in Saturday’s GII Stephen Foster S. at Churchill Downs, which grants the winner a spot in the starting gate for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. Capturing a sloppy renewal of the GII Fayette S. at Keeneland in October, the bay followed suit with a decisive score in the track-and-trip GI Clark S. Nov. 29. He kicked off 2020 with a 3/4-length score in the Oaklawn Mile Apr. 11 on a wet track.

“I’m not worried about he’s going to show up in the Foster; he runs very well fresh,” trainer Al Stall Jr. told the Churchill notes team. “This race will feed us into the rest of the year, which looks like it’s setting up well with the schedules in New York and elsewhere. This is his home track and has a visual of it in front of his stall, sort of like Blame did.”

By My Standards (Goldencents) also rides a hot streak into this race and will give his elder some competition. Kicking off 2020 with a six-length romp in a Fair Grounds optional claimer Feb. 9, the 4-year-old scored a decisive victory in the GII New Orleans Classic S. Mar. 21 and captured the GII Oaklawn H. last time May 2, earning a 102 Beyer Speed Figure.

“[By My Standards] has shown every positive development from his 3-year-old season to this year,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “He’s a very talented racehorse and we saw that with his strong campaign last year. He’s just bigger and stronger this year.”

Three-time Grade III winner Owendale (Into Mischief) takes another shot at Tom’s d’Etat here after finishing second to that rival in the Clark. The bay rallied from well back to captured the one-mile Blame S. at this oval last time May 2.

Another runner of interest at more of a price is the Todd Pletcher-trained Fearless (Ghostzapper). Opening his account with a pair of good-looking scores at Gulfstream this winter, the $725,000 KEESEP buy was off the board in the New Orleans Classic and closed strongly for second next out in an Oaklawn optional claimer May 2. The bay returned to winning ways last time in an optional claimer at this venue May 30.

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Tom’s D’Etat ‘Runs Very Well Fresh,’ Installed As Even-Money Morning Line Favorite For Stephen Foster

G M B Racing's 2019 Clark (Grade I) winner Tom's d'Etat was installed as the even-money morning line favorite for Saturday's $500,000 Stephen Foster presented by Coca-Cola (Grade II) – a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” event for the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Classic (GI).

The 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster is the headliner of a stakes quartet on Saturday's 11-race program at Churchill Downs. The day of racing also will feature the $200,000 Fleur de Lis presented by Coca-Cola (GII), $100,000 Regret presented by TwinSpires.com (GIII) and $100,000 Bashford Manor presented by TwinSpires.com (GIII). First post is 1 p.m. (all times Eastern) and the Stephen Foster is slated at 5:47 p.m.

Along with the spectacular action on the racetrack, bettors will have large wagering pools to tackle including a $250,000-guaranteed Late Pick 5 pool. The 50-cent bet will begin in Race 7 (4:12 p.m.) – a 5 ½ furlong turf allowance event. The next four races will be the Bashford Manor, Fleur de Lis, Stephen Foster and Regret, respectively. For free past performances, visit www.churchilldowns.com/handicapping.

Tom's d'Etat (17-10-2-1—$1,326,572) has won four of his last five starts including a 3 ¼-length score in last year's $600,000 Clark (GI). The now 7-year-old son of Smart Strike enters Saturday's Stephen Foster following a hard-fought victory in the April 11 $150,000 Oaklawn Mile.

“I'm not worried about he's going to show up in the Foster; he runs very well fresh,” trainer Al Stall Jr. said. “This race will feed us into the rest of the year, which looks like it's setting up well with the schedules in New York and elsewhere. … This is his home track and has a visual of it in front of his stall, sort of like Blame did.”

Stall is not a stranger to success in the Stephen Foster. He won the race in 2010 with the aforementioned Blame prior to his victory over Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Blame would go on to become the 2010 Champion Older Male.

“We're trying to get (Tom's d'Etat) to the Blame level,” Stall said. “Both of these horses have a ton of class and ability.”

One of the challenges facing handicappers for Saturday's Stephen Foster is the probable pace scenario. The likely frontrunner in the race could be the graded stakes placed Pirate's Punch. Ridden by Mike Smith, Pirate's Punch has secured the early lead in nine of his last 11 races. A horse that could be tracking from just off the early lead could be Allied Racing Stable's multiple Grade II winner By My Standards.

“It's going to be an interesting setup,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “Pirate's Punch looks like he could be the controlling pace of the race. What's interesting is the horse from the rail (Fearless) who has shown speed back in his form in his maiden race and second start. Since then, he's sort of been relegated off the pace.

“(By My Standards) has shown every positive development from his three-year-old season to this year. He's a very talented racehorse and we saw that with his strong campaign last year. He's just bigger and stronger this year.”

The complete field for the Stephen Foster (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Fearless (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher, 12-1); Pirate's Punch (Mike Smith, Grant Forster, 15-1); Alkhaatam (Declan Cannon, Danny Peitz, 30-1); Multiplier (Tyler Gaffalione, Peter Miller, 10-1); Tom's d'Etat (Mena, Stall, even-money); By My Standards (Gabriel Saez, Calhoun, 5-2); Silver Dust (Beschizza, Calhoun, 10-1); and Owendale (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 4-1).

Both the Stephen Foster and the Fleur de Lis will be broadcast live on NBC from 5-6 p.m.

The Stephen Foster has had a strong influence on the Breeders' Cup Classic and Horse of the Year honors. Four horses used victories in the Stephen Foster as part of their résumés in Horse of the Year campaigns: Black Tie Affair (1991), Saint Liam (2005), Curlin (2008) and Gun Runner (2017). In addition, two runner-ups were crowned Horse of the Year: Mineshaft (2003) and Wise Dan (2012). Also, Awesome Again (1998) and Blame (2010) completed same-year Foster-Classic doubles. Fort Larned won the Classic in 2012, and won the Foster the following year prior to a fourth-place run in his bid for a second Classic win.

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