Justin Phillip Wins G1 Vanderbilt 400K
Aug 1, 2013 21:57:20 GMT -5
Post by Jon on Aug 1, 2013 21:57:20 GMT -5
Delaunay, Gentlemen's Bet renew rivalry in Vanderbilt
Gentlemen's Bet and Delaunay, the top two finishers from the June 28 Iowa Sprint Handicap, will be reunited and attempt to stake their claim for divisional supremacy when they compete in the 29th running of the Grade 1, $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap on Sunday at Saratoga.
The Iowa Sprint at Prairie Meadows was the first stakes win for Gentlemen's Bet, who improved his record to five wins in six starts and snapped Delaunay's six-race winning streak.
Gentlemen's Bet was part of a three-way scramble for the early lead, racing a length from the front along the rail in third before he was angled off the fence. After putting away the top two, the four-year-old son of Half Ours was challenged by Delaunay, briefly lost the lead while racing between horses, turned back that opponent, and reclaimed the advantage en route to a 1 3/4-length victory.
The Iowa Sprint was the second stakes start for Gentlemen's Bet, who suffered his only loss to date when third three starts back in the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap in April at Oaklawn Park.
"Delaunay is a great horse, and like any athlete they can have better days," said Ron Moquett, who trains Gentlemen's Bet. "Delaunay is going to run a great race. We're looking at it like they are all going to run their 'A' game. We'll see how we stack up against them. We respect them, but at the same time we look forward to the opportunity.
"These are sprinters, and they are going to run six furlongs. They're the fastest horses around, so you better bring your 'A' game. You know nobody is coming to Saratoga for the Vanderbilt if they don't think they can win. These are the fastest horses in the United States, and we want to state our case."
Gentlemen's Bet, installed at 9-5 on the morning line, will be ridden for the first time by Joel Rosario. He drew post position 2, outside of Bahamian Squall and inside of Delaunay.
"He's ratable. I love him sitting right off of horses," Moquett remarked.
Delaunay has won seven of nine starts, all stakes, since being claimed by trainer Tom Amoss for owner Maggi Moss. After dominating minor and listed stakes in Kentucky and Louisiana, the six-year-old son of champion sprinter Smoke Glacken easily handled graded competition when he won the Churchill Downs Stakes by four lengths in May.
In the Iowa Sprint, Delaunay broke outwardly and brushed an opponent, raced two lengths off the lead in fourth, made a three-wide bid for the lead, and failed to match strides with Gentlemen's Bet.
"He didn't break all that well and he gave the field a few lengths," Amoss explained. "In fairness, Gentlemen's Bet ran a great race and we're going to have to improve in order for us to win."
Amoss said he was disappointed with Delaunay's first breeze over the Saratoga main track -- four furlongs in :52 1/5 on July 20 -- but that he was encouraged by how the bay gelding handled the surface in his second breeze -- four furlongs in :48 on July 27.
"Transitioning him to the Saratoga track has been a bit of a process," the horseman admitted. "He didn't work all that great in his first work over the track, but his second work was better. We're hopeful he's going to handle the track."
Rosie Napravnik, aboard in four of Delaunay's past five starts, will once again be in the saddle for the Vanderbilt.
The Vanderbilt will be the first start outside Florida for Bahamian Squall, who stalked the pace and made a three-wide run to capture the Smile Sprint Handicap on July 6 at Calder. It was the Gone West colt's first victory from four starts as a four-year-old. As a sophomore, he won the Sunshine State Stakes for Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park.
"He's growing up and getting stronger," trainer David Fawkes said. "Don't get me wrong -- he was nice as a three-year-old, but he had a nice break this spring and came back stronger. (Delaunay and Gentlemen's Bet) are probably the best in the country, but I expect my horse to improve. If we're going to go to the Breeders' Cup, we're going to have to face them at some point."
Luis Saez retains the mount aboard Bahamian Squall.
Justin Phillip seeks his first win since his three-quarter-length victory in the Count Fleet. In two starts since that contest, the five-year-old son of First Samurai was second in the True North Handicap in June at Belmont and fourth in the Smile.
Hall of Famer John Velazquez has the call aboard the Steve Asmussen trainee, who will break from post 4 as he seeks to improve on his runner-up effort in this race last year.
Completing the field is multiple Grade 2 veteran Caixa Eletronica, who won a 1 1/8-mile starter allowance on Sunday at the Spa. The Todd Pletcher charge bypassed this contest last season in favor of the Whitney Handicap, but never factored to wind up finishing eighth. He's racked up a 5-2-2 mark from 11 starts at the Vanderbilt's six-furlong distance and keeps regular rider Javier Castellano in the saddle as he breaks from the far outside.
Brisnet
Gentlemen's Bet and Delaunay, the top two finishers from the June 28 Iowa Sprint Handicap, will be reunited and attempt to stake their claim for divisional supremacy when they compete in the 29th running of the Grade 1, $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap on Sunday at Saratoga.
The Iowa Sprint at Prairie Meadows was the first stakes win for Gentlemen's Bet, who improved his record to five wins in six starts and snapped Delaunay's six-race winning streak.
Gentlemen's Bet was part of a three-way scramble for the early lead, racing a length from the front along the rail in third before he was angled off the fence. After putting away the top two, the four-year-old son of Half Ours was challenged by Delaunay, briefly lost the lead while racing between horses, turned back that opponent, and reclaimed the advantage en route to a 1 3/4-length victory.
The Iowa Sprint was the second stakes start for Gentlemen's Bet, who suffered his only loss to date when third three starts back in the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap in April at Oaklawn Park.
"Delaunay is a great horse, and like any athlete they can have better days," said Ron Moquett, who trains Gentlemen's Bet. "Delaunay is going to run a great race. We're looking at it like they are all going to run their 'A' game. We'll see how we stack up against them. We respect them, but at the same time we look forward to the opportunity.
"These are sprinters, and they are going to run six furlongs. They're the fastest horses around, so you better bring your 'A' game. You know nobody is coming to Saratoga for the Vanderbilt if they don't think they can win. These are the fastest horses in the United States, and we want to state our case."
Gentlemen's Bet, installed at 9-5 on the morning line, will be ridden for the first time by Joel Rosario. He drew post position 2, outside of Bahamian Squall and inside of Delaunay.
"He's ratable. I love him sitting right off of horses," Moquett remarked.
Delaunay has won seven of nine starts, all stakes, since being claimed by trainer Tom Amoss for owner Maggi Moss. After dominating minor and listed stakes in Kentucky and Louisiana, the six-year-old son of champion sprinter Smoke Glacken easily handled graded competition when he won the Churchill Downs Stakes by four lengths in May.
In the Iowa Sprint, Delaunay broke outwardly and brushed an opponent, raced two lengths off the lead in fourth, made a three-wide bid for the lead, and failed to match strides with Gentlemen's Bet.
"He didn't break all that well and he gave the field a few lengths," Amoss explained. "In fairness, Gentlemen's Bet ran a great race and we're going to have to improve in order for us to win."
Amoss said he was disappointed with Delaunay's first breeze over the Saratoga main track -- four furlongs in :52 1/5 on July 20 -- but that he was encouraged by how the bay gelding handled the surface in his second breeze -- four furlongs in :48 on July 27.
"Transitioning him to the Saratoga track has been a bit of a process," the horseman admitted. "He didn't work all that great in his first work over the track, but his second work was better. We're hopeful he's going to handle the track."
Rosie Napravnik, aboard in four of Delaunay's past five starts, will once again be in the saddle for the Vanderbilt.
The Vanderbilt will be the first start outside Florida for Bahamian Squall, who stalked the pace and made a three-wide run to capture the Smile Sprint Handicap on July 6 at Calder. It was the Gone West colt's first victory from four starts as a four-year-old. As a sophomore, he won the Sunshine State Stakes for Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park.
"He's growing up and getting stronger," trainer David Fawkes said. "Don't get me wrong -- he was nice as a three-year-old, but he had a nice break this spring and came back stronger. (Delaunay and Gentlemen's Bet) are probably the best in the country, but I expect my horse to improve. If we're going to go to the Breeders' Cup, we're going to have to face them at some point."
Luis Saez retains the mount aboard Bahamian Squall.
Justin Phillip seeks his first win since his three-quarter-length victory in the Count Fleet. In two starts since that contest, the five-year-old son of First Samurai was second in the True North Handicap in June at Belmont and fourth in the Smile.
Hall of Famer John Velazquez has the call aboard the Steve Asmussen trainee, who will break from post 4 as he seeks to improve on his runner-up effort in this race last year.
Completing the field is multiple Grade 2 veteran Caixa Eletronica, who won a 1 1/8-mile starter allowance on Sunday at the Spa. The Todd Pletcher charge bypassed this contest last season in favor of the Whitney Handicap, but never factored to wind up finishing eighth. He's racked up a 5-2-2 mark from 11 starts at the Vanderbilt's six-furlong distance and keeps regular rider Javier Castellano in the saddle as he breaks from the far outside.
Brisnet
