Leroidesanimaux holds on for Citation
win
T N T Stud’s LEROIDESANIMAUX (Brz) (Candy Stripes) stalked
inside for most of Saturday’s $400,000 Citation H. (G1) before
sliding between his rivals on the far turn to reach front, and he
went on to record his fifth win in a row. Under Jon Court, the
chestnut stopped the clock in 1:41 1/5 for the 1 1/16-mile firm
turf event.
Buckland Manor (Bien Bien) set the early fractions of :23 3/5,
:48, and 1:11 2/5 for the six furlongs. Rounding the turn for
home, however, he was collared by the winner as the Bobby Frankel
trainee slipped through rivals, and began to kick clear. After a
mile in 1:35 2/5, a fast-rushing A to the Z (Benchmark) commenced
a near last-to-first run, but he could not get to the winner,
falling short by a half-length at the wire. Three Valleys (Diesis
[GB]) closed strongly as well, just one length back in third.
Mingun (A.P. Indy), who raced close to the lead throughout, was
next in fourth. Buckland Manor came next, followed by post-time
favorite Nothing to Lose (Sky Classic), Tsigane (Fr) (Anabaa),
Fairly Ransom (Red Ransom), Gondolieri (Chi) (Gold Tribute), and
Special Ring (Nureyev). Mananan McLir (Nijinsky II) was withdrawn.
The 3-1 second choice returned $8.20, $5.80, and $4.80 for the
win. A to the Z, the longshot of the field at 41-1, gave back $25.80
and $13 for the place and completed a $94.80 exacta ($1). Three
Valleys finished off the $1,081.70 trifecta ($1), rewarding his
backers with $7.40 for the show. The 2-1-8-7 superfecta with
Mingun was worth $8,712.10 for $1.
Bred in Brazil by Haras Bage Do Sul, Leroidesanimaux improves
his lifetime mark to 9-6-1-0, with earnings of $436,860. The four-year-old
previously took the Inglewood H. (G3) and Morvich H. (G3) this
year. Out of the Ahonoora mare Dissemble (GB), he is a half-brother
to the Brazilian Group 1 winner Uapybo (Blush Rambler) and has a
weanling half-sister by War Chant.