Preakness Stakes winner Seize the Gray returned to high type with a front-running victory within the $1 million Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby Sept. 21 at Parx Racing.
Requested for pace early by rider Jaime Torres, Seize the Gray made the lead and loped alongside via fractions of :23.89, :49.25, and 1:13.81. Santa Anita Derby winner Stronghold lodged a menacing problem exterior the chief within the lane, however Seize the Gray repelled him to win going away by 3 3/4 lengths in a time of 1:51.89 for the 1 1/8 miles.
Nearing the end with the result not unsure, Torres stood within the irons and celebrated as Seize the Gray crossed the wire a lot the perfect.
“I did not count on to get the lead that simple,” Torres stated. “I believed it could be extra robust, however you need to come out and stick to the plan. In case you can comply with the plan that is a great factor.”
Stronghold was second. Dragoon Guard rallied alongside the within to complete third, snapping his four-race profitable streak. Longshot Uncle Heavy completed fourth.
After a pair of disappointing losses at Saratoga within the Belmont Stakes and the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes offered by Mohegan Solar, 3-year-old Seize the Gray once more regarded like a traditional winner. Despatched out by legendary 89-year-old coach D. Wayne Lukas for possession group MyRacehorse, Seize the Gray completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.89 and paid $10.60 to win.
Seize the Gray’s victory supplied his MyRacehorse 2,570 micro-share house owners with one other unforgettable thrill as he led all through.
“I do not know if I’ve ever been concerned with that many people who find themselves crying and hugging and leaping up and down,” Lukas stated. “It was unbelievable. The actual pleasure is doing it to your purchasers. After you win one, you might be at all times enthusiastic about the clientele.”
After leaping to the higher echelon of the 3-year-old class with back-back-to-back wins within the Grade 2 Pat Mile Day Mile offered by SAP at Churchill Downs and Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course, Seize the Gray completed seventh within the Belmont Stakes and fourth within the Jim Dandy in his most up-to-date begin.
“The factor about him is that after the debacle in Saratoga he skilled brilliantly ever since. He was actually sharp on daily basis. That is very gratifying,” Lukas stated. “I used to be very assured. I’ve been that assured with him thrice and all thrice he received.”
Sure for Gainesway Farm after his racing profession, Seize the Grey added one other dose of top-level success to his resume that features 5 wins in 13 profession begins. The Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar may very well be subsequent, however Lukas was unsure if the Huge Ass Followers Breeders’ Cup Dust Mile or the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional at 1 1/4 miles can be the perfect for him.
“I’ll give them my vote. I do not prefer to make selections within the winner’s circle,” Lukas stated. “I’m considering (Dust Mile) however a mile-and-a-quarter is properly inside his scope, particularly on that observe. In case you are ever going to get a mile-and-a-quarter, you’re going to get it (at Del Mar).”
It wasn’t as simple as her three earlier Grade 1 victories this 12 months, however Thorpedo Anna ‘s class got here via ultimately with a slender rating within the $1 million Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes Sept. 21 at Parx Racing.
Boxed in turning for residence, Thorpedo Anna shouldered her approach exterior of horses when she gained room on the high of the stretch and ran down a recreation Gun Music by a neck margin on the wire.
The overwhelming 1-9 favourite in an eight-horse area, Thorpedo Anna ($2.20) clocked the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.45 underneath common rider Brian Hernandez Jr.. Gun Music completed second at 44-1 odds. Tarifa was third.
Thorpedo Anna was exiting a heartbreaking loss to Fierceness within the Grade 1 DraftKings Travers Stakes Aug. 24 in opposition to males at Saratoga. The Kenny McPeek trainee runs for the partnership of Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks, and Magdalena Racing.
When McPeek reported a month in the past that Thorpedo Anna would goal the Cotillion in opposition to her personal intercourse fairly than re-oppose males within the Pennsylvania Derby, victory appeared all however inevitable for the filly sensation. And so the racing public watched with bated breath as Thorpedo Anna lower the win a bit of too shut for consolation Saturday afternoon.
“Oh my goodness. That is what horse racing is about,” stated co-owner and breeder Judy Hicks after the race.
Thorpedo Anna added to her Eclipse Award-worthy resume, having secured earlier season wins in each high race in her division together with the Grade 1 Longines Kentucky Oaks, the Grade 1 DK Horse Acorn Stakes, and the Grade 1 Teaching Membership American Oaks.
“A win is a win. I’m going to take it,” stated McPeek. “I am not complaining. Good ones overcome every thing. She is head over heels above the 3-year-old fillies.”
Reducing again to the 1 1/16-mile journey after touring the traditional 1 1/4-mile distance within the Travers, common rider Brian Hernandez tucked Thorpedo Anna right into a stalking place simply behind pacesetting Mystic Lake and Gun Music via the opening fractions. Following splits of :23.94, :48.01, and 1:12.55, Thorpedo Anna discovered herself boxed in with nowhere to go as the sphere turned for residence. Affected person and conscious of the loaded cannon beneath him, Hernandez waited till Mystic Lake conceded her benefit and the early runners drifted aside earlier than gunning Thorpedo Anna for the leaders.
Thorpedo Anna edged in entrance of her recreation rival, who had re-rallied strides from the end. Hernandez, whereas encouraging his filly, by no means as soon as used the whip on Thorpedo Anna.
“(John Velazquez aboard Gun Music) put us in a field, and we had been simply caught there behind him for an extended, very long time,” stated Hernandez. “Then we lastly obtained a bit of appear turning for residence. She lengthened her stride, and she or he was in a position to simply put her neck in entrance. She simply confirmed how recreation she was from the eighth pole residence.”
The following cease for Thorpedo Anna would be the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff Nov. 2 at Del Mar. — Molly Rollins
