Godolphin’s Essential Quality does it again
It was a second 3-year-old Grade 1 victory and fourth Grade 1 win overall for Godolphin’s champion juvenile Essential Quality (USA) (Tapit {USA}) on Saturday when he won the G1 Runhappy Travers S. at Saratoga.
The 2000 metre dirt race saw Essential Quality right behind the pacesetting Midnight Bourbon (USA) (Tiznow {USA}) early on before letting that one open a few lengths on the field. As they entered the final 600 metres, Essential Quality closed that margin and was head-and-head with Midnight Bourbon as they entered the stretch. Midnight Bourbon wasn’t going down without a fight and stuck with the grey all the way to the wire when Essential Quality won by 0.25l. The pair were 5l in front of third-placed Miles D (USA) (Curlin {USA}), who had a battle of his own to beat Keepmeinmind (USA) (Laoban {USA}) for that position by 0.25l.
“He’s danced a lot of dances and shown up,” said trainer Brad Cox. “His lone defeat was the Kentucky Derby, where we felt he was right there in the mix. He’s done nothing wrong. We’re proud of what he’s accomplished this year and he’s a very good horse with a fantastic resume.”
Essential Quality is one of two runners out of multiple stakes-placed Delightful Quality (USA) (Elusive Quality {USA}). That mare is a half-sister to US Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Folklore (USA) (Tiznow {USA}), who is the grandam of Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).
Gufo takes out Sword Dancer
While all of Saratoga’s dirt Grade 1 winners came from the lead on Saturday, on the turf Gufo (USA) (Declaration Of War {USA}) won from the complete opposite position in the G1 Sword Dancer S. over 2400 metres.
Gufo was content to run in last 10l behind the pacesetting Channel Maker (USA) (English Channel {USA}) for much of the race. He slowly moved closer to the front as they raced around the course to race in midpack in the turn. Going through a hole Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) had been eying, Gufo took over the lead in the stretch then held off Japan by 0.25l with Cross Border (USA) (English Channel {USA}) 3.5l behind them at the line.
“I am delighted with this horse and the way he ran today,” said trainer Christophe Clement. “He is a top-class horse. He's always been a top-class horse. A mile-and-a-quarter, a mile-and-a-half, it really doesn't matter for him. I am delighted to win this race.”
By former shuttle stallion Declaration Of War (USA), Gufo is a half-brother to multiple Graded stakes winner and six-time stakes winner Hogy (USA) (Offlee Wild {USA}). They are two of three winners out of Floy (USA) (Petionville {USA}) with the winner and his half-brother the best two runners for their family in three generations.
Jackie’s Warrior proves the best in Allen Jerkens
It was billed as a showdown between Jackie’s Warrior (USA) (Maclean’s Music {USA}) and Life Is Good (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) and the G1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. didn’t disappoint with Jackie’s Warrior coming out on top.
Sitting just off of Life Is Good for much of the 1400 metre Saratoga dirt race, Jackie’s Warrior confronted him around the turn. The duel developed from there with neither colt wanting to give in but Jackie’s Warrior finally received the advantage in the final 300 metres. By the time they hit the line, the colt was 0.25l ahead with Following Sea (USA) (Runhappy {USA}) 8.75l behind the second-placed Life Is Good.
Future Spendthrift Farm stallion Jackie’s Warrior is the winner of seven of his 10 starts with only one off-the-board finish. The colt is out of a 19-time winning half-sister to multiple stakes winner Bernie The Maestro (USA) (Bernstein {USA}) and two other stakes performers and hails from the family of Mexican champion Kukulkan (Mex) (Point Determined {USA}) and Grade 1 winner Mayo On The Side (USA) (French Deputy {USA}).
Yaupon survives savaging to win Forego
Yaupon (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}) proved to be a complete professional when he shrugged off Firenze Fire’s (USA) (Poseidon’s Warrior {USA}) repeated attempts to savage him down the stretch to win the G1 Forego S. at Saratoga.
Yaupon had the lead all the way around the track with Firenze Fire closely attending him but when the race got serious, Firenze Fire proved to be frustrated by the running. With just over 200 metres to run, Firenze Fire attempted to bite Yaupon but was quickly corrected by Jose Ortiz. He went after the winner even more seriously after they crossed the 200-metre mark but Yaupon shrugged it off to win by a head over his harasser with Chance It (USA) (Currency Swap {USA}) 2.5l back in third.
“It’s very exciting to have a winner of the Grade 1 Forego for the Heiligbrodts,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “But the finish made it that much more dramatic. I will watch that replay many times in my future. For Firenze Fire savaging Yaupon in deep stretch in a G1 at Saratoga with two horses on the lead, that will be memorable.”
Yaupon is the ninth Grade 1 winner for former shuttle stallion Uncle Mo (USA) and one of two stakes performers for his Grade 1-placed dam Modification (USA) (Vindication {USA}). That mare is one of four stakes performers out of stakes winner Swift Alliance (USA) (Afleet {USA}).
Letruska builds her championship credentials in Personal Ensign
Letruska (USA) (Super Saver {USA}) continued to run her way toward Eclipse honours on Saturday with a 0.5l victory in the G1 Personal Ensign S. Presented by Lia Infiniti at Saratoga.
In what seemed to be a common theme among Saratoga winners on Saturday, Letruska went straight to the lead in the 1800 metre dirt race and never looked back. She was pressured by different rivals throughout the running but when it came down to it, she dug in and showed to have enough left to hold off Bonny South (USA) (Munnings {USA}) by 0.5l. Bonny South finished a head ahead of third-placed Royal Flag (USA) (Candy Ride {Arg}) with Dunbar Road (USA) (Quality Road {USA}) another head back in fourth.
“She’s a special horse. I am very excited and happy for the trainer, Fausto Gutierrez. He’s done such a great job with her. She’s doing great. She does all the hard work, I just pilot her. She’s easy to ride,” said Irad Ortiz Jr.
A Mexican champion as a 3-year-old, the 5-year-old Letruska is a half-sister to stakes winner Trigger Warning (USA) (Candy Ride {Arg}) and stakes-placed American Doll (USA) (Tiznow {USA}). That trio is out of Grade 2-placed Magic Appeal (USA) (Successful Appeal {USA}), who is a full sister to Grade 1 winner J P’s Gusto and half-sister to the dam of Canadian Champion Miss Mischief (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}). Letruska is one of three champions under her first three dams with that mare also the grandam of 2008 Champion 3-Year-Old Proud Spell (USA) (Proud Citizen {USA}).
Gamine wins Ballerina
Champion Gamine (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) added a fifth Grade 1 victory to her resume on Saturday with a victory in the G1 Ketel One Ballerina H. at Santa Anita.
Gamine kept to her trademark running style in the 1400-metre race and went straight to the lead out of the gate. The filly drifted in the stretch but still proved to be much the best with a 1.75l win as the Heavy race favorite. Lake Avenue (USA) (Tapit {USA}) held off a late-charging Ce Ce (USA) (Elusive Quality {USA}) by 0.25l for second.
"She is one amazing horse,” said owner Michael Lund Petersen. “They don’t come around like her very often, and I treat her like that, too. You never know when it will be the last time you're going to see them like this so you just enjoy every race like it's going to be the last win we get. She is very special."
It was the ninth win in 10 starts for US$1.8 million (AU$2,461,707) 2-year-old purchase Gamine, who is out of the stakes-placed Peggy Jane (USA) (Kafwain {USA}). This is also the family of Canadian Champion Dynamic Sky (Can) (Sky Mesa {USA}), who leads the 10 stakes horses listed under Gamine’s third dam.
Lavender’s Blue upsets Benbatl in Celebration Mile
G1 Caulfield Cup winner Benbatl’s (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) long-awaited return was spoiled on Saturday when Lavender’s Blue (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) bested him by a nose in the G2 Celebration Mile.
Covering 1600 metres on the Goodwood turf, Lavender’s Blue raced in the back of a tightly packed midpack as Pogo (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) set the pace. The mare was pulled out from behind Benbatl with 400 left to run and started to chase him down inside the final 200 metres. She gained with every metre to get her nose in front two strides from the wire. Two lengths behind the top two, it was another nose that secured third for Pogo over Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) with Perotto (GB) (New Bay {GB}) another nose back in fifth.
It was the second Group win for Lavender’s Blue, who is out of Group 3 winner Beatrice Aurore (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). That mare is one of four stakes winners for her own stakes-winning dam Mondschein (GB) (Rainbow Quest {USA}).
Jack Christopher romps to TDN Rising Stardom
Jack Christopher (USA) (Munnings {USA}) was well thought of before his debut on Saturday at Saratoga and he proved why with an 8.75l romp to earn TDN Rising Star honours.
The 1200 metre dirt race saw the colt push the leader for much of the race before taking the lead with just under 400 metres left to run. The race was over from then with just one horse able to get within 10l of the winner.
Jack Christopher is out of a half-sister to Darley’s shuttle stallion Street Boss (USA) and a three-quarter sister to the Grade 2-placed dam of Grade 3 winners Bellera (USA) (Bernardini {USA}) and Life Imitates Art (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}).
