Moving forward, Todd Pletcher earned his fourth victory when Life Is Well defeated stablemate Happy Saver by two lengths, moving him into a tie for second place among all-time Whitney winners with J. Elliott Burch. With Left Bank (2002), Lawyer Ron (2007), and Cross Traffic, Pletcher solidified his last triumphs in the renowned Whitney (2013). From 1942 through 1958, John Gaver produced five Whitney victories.
It means a lot to me because, in Pletcher's opinion, it's the best older horse race outside of the Breeders' Cup Classic.
PUZZLING FINISH: Life Is Good and Olympiad, who had won all five of his starts in his 4-year-old season, were anticipated to engage in a thrilling clash in the Whitney. That never happened. In a dreary fourth place on a track graded excellent after an afternoon rain shower, Olympiad was never a factor. The son of world-class sprinter Speightstown finished ninth, 9 1/4 lengths back. He did not attempt to run. He failed to complete his race. Not even close," the jockey Junior Alvarado added, "I felt I was in trouble at the half-mile. He wasn't going where he usually goes or picking it up.
IMMEDIATE SUCCESS: Godolphin's Nations Pride, ridden by jockey William Buick, most renowned for his international successes, triumphed in the $1 million Grade 1 Caesars Saratoga Derby Invitational for trainer Charles Appleby. With his first Saratoga mount, he achieved victory. Buick remarked, "I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to come over here and ride these horses. "I've been riding a lot in the United States lately, on and off, and I enjoy it. This jockey colony over here is unique. The opportunity to spend Saturday night in the jocks' room with all the A-list celebrities was terrific.
SITTING CHILLY: Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott credited jockey Joel Rosario's thrilling performance for War Like Goddess' ability to successfully repeat in the $250,000 Grade 2 Glens Falls Stakes by using her trademark late kick. According to Mott, you constantly wonder if the leaders are moving quickly enough to give her a good pace, and you don't want them to struggle to hold her back from the lead. "Joel performed well. The filly responded and was there for him when he asked her to continue because he had strong hands.
LIVE AT FIVE: a mare of five years old In the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff last year, Blue Stripe placed seventh but was a distant second-place finisher. It might be very different this time. When she defeated Desert Dawn by 1 3/4 lengths in the $400,000 Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes on Saturday night at Del Mar, she earned a fees-paid spot in this year's $2 million Grade 1 Longines Distaff. Shedaresthedevil, who was favoured, settled for third.
Although Blue Stripe had won a Group 1 race in her own country, this was her first Grade 1 victory in the US. Since Marcelo Polanco started training her this season, she has two wins and a second-place finish in graded stakes races. She finished the one 1/16-mile Hirsch in 1:42.97 while being ridden for the first time by jockey Hector Berrios. Looking toward the one 1/8-mile Distaff, Berrios added, "I think she wants to run farther."
Login To Leave a Comment