THE Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty showed no ill effect from the Triple Crown season as he returned to action against what looked a competitive field in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga last Saturday.
In his prep for the August 23rd Grade 1 Travers Stakes, the “Midsummer Derby”, back at this track, he powered to a length victory over Baeza, who had finished third to him in the Derby and Belmont Stakes.
The nine-furlong Jim Dandy was Sovereignty’s first start since the Belmont Stakes on June 7th.
Sovereignty broke well and was closer to the pace than usual when third after a half-mile with Mo Plex setting the pace on easy fractions.
Turning for home, Baeza and Sovereignty raced wide to challenge and pulled away, with Sovereignty always looking to have the upper hand and not under any significant pressure from his rider in the final furlong.
Dreams are made
“It’s been amazing. This what dreams are made of. You wake up every morning and you come to work hoping one day one of those horses comes across you and you get to ride it. For me, this is a dream horse,” jockey Junior Alvarado said.
Trainer Bill Mott said to NYRA reporters on track: “We know coming into the Travers he should be fit, he’s got two races over the track and so far that’s all gone pretty well. I just hope everything goes as smoothly between now and the Travers as it has the first half of the year.”
While Journalism, Sovereignty’s rival for the three-year-old male honours, may not return for the Midsummer Derby, Baeza may be in the line-up again.
The John Shirreffs-trained colt finished over nine lengths ahead of third-place finisher Hill Road.
It was Sovereignty’s fifth win in eight starts and pushed his earnings to $5,147,800. The attendance for the Saturday card was 36,481.
Del Mar
Bing Crosby Stakes (Grade 1)
TRAINER Librado Barocio had the biggest win of his career in the Del Mar six furlong Grade 1 when the seven-year-old gelding Lovesick Blues ran out a length and three-quarters winner
The grey came from far back, having to run down Hejazi, a $3 million purchase representing the Bob Baffert barn.
Under jockey Geovanni Franco, Lovesick Blues swooped past rivals while racing five wide, caught Hejazi with half a furlong to go and pulled away
However, the standout performance on the west coast came from Bob Baffert’s four-year-old Nysos in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap.
It had not been a lucky race for Baffert as stars such as dual classic winner Silver Charm and champion Arrogate had suffered defeats in it.
At odds of 1/9, the four-year-old son of Nyquist angled out and stormed clear, winning like a short-odds favourite should with rider Flavien Prat easing up on the colt close to the line.
Baffert announced the Grade 1 Pacific Classic Stakes on August 30th would be next for the colt, which could see him meet the three-year-old Journalism.
Nysos was coming off a sharp win in the seven-furlong Grade 3 Triple Bend Handicap and. took a backseat early here to stablemate Mirahmadi.
The front-runner set a quick tempo, as Flavien Prat was patient aboard Nysos, sitting a ground-saving trip along the rail.
As the field turned for home, Mirahmadi still led as Prat switched Nysos out to challenge. The favourite quickly got on top and Nysos went on to win buy two and three quarter lengths from Mirahmadi.
Baffert said. “Prat tucked in behind there. Mirahmadi ran his race, but Prat had enough horse and cut the corner. It’s exciting. I’m thrilled for both horses.”
Brandt new star
Baffert also produced a new talking horse in a maiden in the grey Gun Runner colt Brant who made an impressive highly anticipated debut as the colt had already created a splash from consignor Eddie Woods at this year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training, when selling for $3 million.
Brant stopped the clock in a near track record time.