Filly Warm Heart used an impressive stretch move along the rail Jan. 27 to become the first filly to capture the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) at Gulfstream Park and set a course record in the process.
The victory for Warm Heart, a 4-year-old daughter of Galileo, ended the filly's career with a 6-2-1 record in 11 starts. The Coolmore-bred bay out of Sea Siren , who is campaigned by the Coolmore-affiliated owners Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Westerberg, also made Aidan O'Brien the first European trainer to capture the esteemed race in its six years after being rebranded from the Gulfstream Park Turf.
"She will be retired, retired at the top of her game," said Charlie O'Connor, Coolmore America director of sales. "Maybe a little date with Justify or something."
Reigning Longines World's Best Jockey Ryan Moore delivered a move worthy of that title as he and the daughter of Galileo found room along the inside near the eighth pole to squeeze through and seize the lead on her way to victory. O'Brien, who was not at the race, praised jockey Ryan Moore for his winning ride.
"We're absolutely delighted," O'Brien said. "It's incredible. Ryan obviously gave her an incredible ride and everybody has done such an incredible job. We're just so delighted for everyone and for her to go off now to Justify is so exciting. She's absolutely made for him."
Repole Stable's Jerry the Nipper , ridden by Jose Ortiz, raced to the lead after breaking from post position 2. Harrell Ventures' Main Event , from post 11 in the 12-horse field, hurriedly overtook Jerry the Nipper to grab the lead. The 5-year-old son of Bernardini then set fractions of :23.47, :46.86, 1:09.55, and 1.32.88. Warm Heart settled in third behind Jerry the Nipper.
"She broke smart and she was able to put herself in that spot," Moore said of Warm Heart. "I was always happy."
Main Event led into the stretch, where Warm Heart, who had cut the corner, forged past on the inside with a furlong to go. Team Hanley, Richard Schermerhorn, and Paul Braverman's I'm Very Busy and Susan and John Moore's Catnip overtook Main Event on the former leader's outside.
"I was happy to wait," Moore said. "The leader, he was always laying out, and he was weakening and I knew I had plenty of horse."
Warm Heart finished a half-length ahead of 14-1 I'm Very Busy and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., to post a winning time of 1:44.45 on firm turf, breaking English Channel's 17-year-old course record for 1 1/8 miles. English Channel ran 1:44.51 on Feb. 22, 2007.
Warm Heart paid $6.80, $4.40, and $3.80.
Catnip, who started at 45-1 from the outside post position under Frankie Dettori, finished a neck behind the Chad Brown-trained I'm Very Busy to take third. Catnip is trained by Michael Stidham.
"Perfect trip, what can I say," Ortiz Jr. said. "Ryan is a master at what he does and he's a champion."
Three Diamonds Farm's Atone , who won the race last year, finished fourth. The 7-year-old gelding, trained by Mike Maker, followed Warm Heart up the rail with jockey Oisin Murphy. West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing's Integration , the 6-5 favorite with jockey Tyler Gaffalione, finished fifth.
Warm Heart was coming off a third-place finish in the Dec. 10 Hong Kong Vase (G1) and a second by a neck behind Inspiral in the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) at Santa Anita Park.
"I thought she was in a good spot, wasn't concerned because when you have Ryan Moore onboard, he's going to find it," O'Connor said. "He's going to find the gap, and come up the rail beautifully, like he did at the Breeders' Cup."
Warm Heart closes her career with top-level victories in three different countries. Besides Saturday's win, Warm Heart also landed last year's Prix Vermeille (G1) at Longchamp in France and Britain's Yorkshire Oaks (G1) at York.
"She's shown everything. She's tough, she's durable, she travels, she's sound," O'Brien said. "I don't think you can ask for anything more from a filly. She's strong, she handles all types of ground, she's tactical and she's tough. I'm just so delighted watching it all. The atmosphere is there and I'm delighted for everybody. We feel very privileged to be part of her story."
Bred in Ireland, Warm Heart's dam, Sea Siren, is an Australian-bred daughter of Fastnet Rock who captured three group 1 races in Australia. Four of her five starters are winners, including group 3-placed Celestial Object .
Video
"course" - Google News
January 28, 2024 at 05:23AM
https://ift.tt/yuv31UZ
Warm Heart Sets Course Record in Winning Pegasus Turf - BloodHorse.com
"course" - Google News
https://ift.tt/1w9sDk3
https://ift.tt/4lKfmci
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Warm Heart Sets Course Record in Winning Pegasus Turf - BloodHorse.com"
Post a Comment