Mufasa parlayed a monitor record-setting win at Colonial Downs into his first stateside graded stakes victory one begin later within the $250,000, Grade 3 Vosburgh Stakes, certainly one of 4 graded stakes held Sept. 28 throughout a wet Belmont on the Large A (Aqueduct) card in New York.
The 5-year-old son of Sensible Joke, guess down because the 8-5 favourite, made brief work of his Vosburgh rivals, powering clear on the high of the lane and roaring residence a dominant 4 ¼-length winner. Along with his Vosburgh win, a Breeders’ Cup Problem Collection occasion, Mufasa was awarded an all-fees paid berth to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Dash Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
Educated by Ignacio Correas for Carlos Saavedra and Stud Vendaval, Mufasa made his third North American begin within the Vosburgh after successful eight of 10 begins in his native Chile. After ending sixth at Churchill Downs in June, he scorched seven furlongs in 1:19.86 at Colonial when successful an allowance optionally available claiming race by 3 ¾ lengths and setting a monitor document on grime.
With Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard within the Vosburgh, Mufasa stalked pacesetter Dean Delivers by means of a half-mile after which took management on the quarter pole and poured it on to the wire. Mufasa clocked seven furlongs in 1:22.51 over a sloppy, sealed monitor.
“We had been anticipating one thing huge from him,” Correas mentioned. “I’m undecided if that’s huge, the one query was the floor. He’d by no means run on the slop. He did the whole lot good, like common, like good horses do. He’s a very good horse – most likely when he ran at Churchill, it was a little bit brief, however he confirmed he might run, he made an enormous transfer that day. Then, at Colonial, he beat an excellent horse. Then immediately he was spectacular once more. I imply, no phrases can describe his efficiency.”
Scotland closed willingly for second whereas Dean Delivers held on for third to finish the trifecta.–Molly Rollins
Zulu Kingdom Prevails in Pilgrim, Earns BC Juvenile Turf Berth
It wasn’t the simplest of journeys for Zulu Kingdom within the $200,000, Grade 2 Pilgrim Stakes, however in the long run the journey propelled him to the place any proficient 2-year-old desires to be – specifically, the Breeders’ Cup.
Dwelling as much as his standing as an odds-on favourite, the Irish-bred son of Ten Sovereigns needed to navigate round rivals whereas ready for room and however then rallied broad on the ultimate flip to notch a neck victory over a fast-closing Noble Confessor within the Pilgrim at Belmont on the Large A and earn a free spot within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Nov. 1 at Del Mar through the “Win and You’re In” Problem Collection.
“He ran an excellent race particularly for being steadied on the backstretch,” coach Chad Brown mentioned after notching his fourth Pilgrim win. “He’s all the time educated stable. He’s a really sturdy colt. He’s all the time there for you in his works. He acts like an actual horse. He’s by no means taken a fallacious step.”
The victory was the second straight for the undefeated juvenile colt since he was bought by his present connections and moved to the US. A collective consisting of Sol Kumin’s Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, William Strauss, and Michael Caruso purchased Zulu Kingdom after he gained his June 4 profession debut in France for coach Andre Fabre, after which he debuted for Brown Aug. 29 and promptly captured the With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
Within the Pilgrim, Zulu Kingdom rated in fifth by means of a half-mile earlier than rallying within the far flip and persevering with on gamely by means of the stretch beneath Joel Rosario. He accomplished 1 1/16 miles on yielding turf in 1:48.67 in a end that had some drama within the ultimate yards as Noble Confessor chewed into the lead.
Although he gained on yielding turf Saturday, his victory on the Spa got here on agency turf, the type of floor he’ll seemingly face on the World Championships in sunny southern California.
“I believe he’ll be higher on agency turf, the way in which he strikes,” Brown mentioned.–Bob Ehalt
Far Bridge Denies Conflict Like Goddess in Joe Hirsch Turf Basic
Anybody of the opinion that Far Bridge “stole” a victory within the Aug. 24 Resorts World On line casino Sword Dancer Stakes shouldn’t point out it to coach Christophe Clement.
He’ll level out the error in your perception.
“After (the Sword Dancer) folks mentioned he stole it, which barely stunned me,” Clement mentioned. “All people had the prospect to beat him from the quarter pole to the wire and no one outfinished him. He truly outfinished them. He proved immediately he didn’t steal something as a result of he got here from off the tempo and gained the race.”
The compelling argument in Clement’s declare that Far Bridge ought to be discovered not responsible of larceny got here Sept. 28 when the 4-year-old son of English Channel rallied from fourth in a subject of 5 to win the $500,000, Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Basic Stakes at Belmont on the Large A by a half-length over Conflict Like Goddess, the 7-year-old mare bidding for a 3rd straight Joe Hirsch victory.
The victory was a pointy prep for the $5 million, Grade 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf Nov. 2 at Del Mar and the third Grade 1 win for Far Bridge, who additionally captured the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes final 12 months whereas he was educated by Todd Pletcher and has now gained six of 13 begins with earnings of $1,752,700.
“The Breeders’ Cup is the purpose, and we’ll begin planning tomorrow,” Clement mentioned. “We’ve got to determine whether or not to maintain him at Belmont Park and work on the (grime) coaching monitor or ship him to Saratoga so he can work on turf. My son Miguel is in Saratoga so I’m positive he’ll need him there.”
Far Bridge has a free spot within the Longines Turf because of incomes a “Win and You’re In” berth within the aforementioned 1 ½-mile Sword Dancer held at Saratoga. In Saturday’s Joe Hirsch, held on the similar distance, Far Bridge darted to the within beneath Joel Rosario and bested a recreation Conflict Like Goddess to prevail by a half-length in in 2:32.22 over a moist turf course rated good.
Whereas Conflict Like Goddess was denied a 3rd straight Joe Hirsch win, jockey Junior Alvarado mentioned the Invoice Mott-trained mare turned in a very good effort.
“She ran very effectively. Sadly, the opposite horse obtained by means of on the rail,” he mentioned in regards to the daughter of English Channel. “I don’t wish to say she’s like final 12 months or the 12 months earlier than. She’s tailing off a bit, however it’s not like she’s operating dangerous. She barely obtained beat by a half-length and that was as a result of the opposite horse lower the nook.”–Bob Ehalt
Tapit Trice Runs Down Skippylongstocking to Win Woodward Stakes
Tapit Trice rallied late to nail Skippylongstocking on the end of the $400,000 Woodward Stakes Sept. 28 to kick off the graded stakes motion on the Belmont on the Large A card.
The Woodward win, his fourth in graded stakes firm for coach Todd Pletcher, has propelled Tapit Trice into Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic rivalry.
“We’ve all the time felt he was a Basic-type horse, so I’ll discuss to the (proprietor) Whisper Hill (Farm) staff about it,” Pletcher mentioned about Tapit Trice. “We had been definitely going into this hoping to run a race that may earn his manner in. It definitely seemed like he did that immediately.”
Ridden by Dylan Davis, the son of Tapit broke awkwardly and began climbing over the muddy, sealed monitor as the sphere headed down the backstretch. Odds-on race favourite Skippylongstocking, the projected pacesetter, opted to put off longshot Masqueparade by means of the early going earlier than seizing command on the high of the stretch.
Switching his mount to an outdoor path, Davis and Tapit Trice reeled in Skippylongstocking for a three-quarters of a size victory in a ultimate time of 1:50.09 for 1 1/8 miles.
“As soon as he was capable of get by means of and I switched him to the skin, he actually began thriving,” Davis mentioned. “The gap didn’t have an effect on him in any respect. He’s a nice-moving horse so hopefully I can proceed with him, however I’m very proud of this efficiency immediately.”
Skippylongstocking was 13 ¼ lengths forward of distant third-place finisher Crupi.–Molly Rollins
