Tom Pedulla presents takeaways from the Grade `1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers Stakes, the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World On line casino Sword Dancer Stakes and the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina Handicap, all at Saratoga Race Course, in addition to the Grade 2, $250,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar, and the $1 million King’s Plate at Woodbine. The Sword Dancer (Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf), Ballerina (PNC Financial institution Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Dash) and Pat O’Brien (Massive Ass Followers Breeders’ Cup Dust Mile) are a part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Problem Sequence.
HEARTENING DEFEAT: Thorpedo Anna failed in her bid to change into the primary filly to win the Travers since Woman Rotha in 1915. Barely. Her valiant late cost left her only a head in need of overtaking an equally decided Fierceness, the 2-year-old champion who earned consecutive victories for the primary time in a mystifying profession. “Every little thing actually went to plan aside from one horse in her means,” coach Kenny McPeek mentioned. “She’s so particular and we’re actually pleased with her.” McPeek plans to return her to her division to face 3-year-old fillies within the Sept. 21 Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing earlier than she goes on to the Nov. 2 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar.
PACE MAKES RACE: Intelligent technique and a shrewd trip made the distinction as Far Bridge pulled an upset within the 1 ½-mile Sword Dancer that Godolphin figured to dominate with Measured Time and Silver Knott. They wound up second and third as Joel Rosario and Far Bridge coasted by means of a gap half-mile in :50.92, three quarters in 1:17.21, and a mile in a leisurely 1:42.50 en path to a closing time of two:29.51 for LSU Stables. “On paper, we didn’t assume there was a lot tempo,” coach Christophe Clement mentioned. “The concept was to interrupt in entrance or proper behind Godolphin. He took the lead and no one bothered him. [Rosario] rode a fantastic race.”
ACCORDING TO PLAN: Grade 1-winning mares should not usually saved in coaching for his or her 5-year-old seasons since they have already got established important broodmare worth. Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, breeder and proprietor of Society, gave her one other yr with Corridor of Fame coach Steve Asmussen with a return to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Dash very a lot in thoughts. They’re on the right track after the daughter of Gun Runner secured an automated berth within the race they’re concentrating on by profitable the Ballerina by 3 ¼ lengths for jockey Tyler Gaffalione. Society ran fourth in final yr’s Filly & Mare Dash. “She got here again in coaching to get to the Breeders’ Cup,” Asmussen famous. “Ran honorably final yr, however we will run higher. And that’s the plan.” Asmussen added that the mare “is best now than she’s ever been.”
RARE SETBACK: The Chosen Vron had rattled off six consecutive victories and 15 wins in his final 16 begins earlier than he suffered a neck defeat to Raging Torrent Saturday within the Pat O’Brien. The Chosen Vron carried 125 kilos, seven greater than the winner, and jockey Hector Berrios famous that his mount was making a reasonably fast turnaround from his July 27 victory within the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes. “He tried, little question,” Berrios mentioned. “However possibly he got here again a bit of too fast. He simply ran right here a number of weeks in the past and this may need been too quickly.” Entrance-running Raging Torrent, who established a cushty early lead, is educated by Doug O’Neill and was ridden by Antonio Fresu.
WORTHY OF NAME: Caitlinhergrtness, named after ladies’s basketball star Caitlin Clark, emerged because the thirty ninth filly to take the opening leg of Canada’s Triple Crown Friday. She edged closely favored My Boy Prince by three-quarters of a size within the King’s Plate on Woodbine’s Tapeta all-weather floor with Rafael Hernandez was aboard. “She’s clearly all class and all racehorse,” coach Kevin Attard mentioned. “She’s dealt with all the pieces rather well. She’s withstanding all the pieces we’ve thrown at her.” Attard was noncommittal about whether or not the daughter of Omaha Seaside will go on to the second leg, the 1 3/16-mile Prince of Wales Stakes on dust on Sept. 10 at Fort Erie. The collection concludes with the 1 ½-mile Breeders’ Stakes Sept. 29 on turf at Woodbine.
