Brad Scott, Jon Kelly, Ralls and Foster’s BORREGO (El Prado [Ire]) turned in
a sensational rally to win Saturday’s $1 million
Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1),
circling the entire field on the far turn with an extremely impressive turn of
foot and opening up a commanding advantage by upper stretch. The Beau Greely
trainee led by almost 10 lengths over his nearest rival with about a furlong
left to run when jockey Garrett Gomez put the four-year-old under wraps, and Borrego
galloped to the wire for a 4 1/2-length decision.
The winner was content to trail far back in last during the early stages as
the 3-2 favorite Flower Alley (Distorted Humor) and entrymate Bishop Court Hill
(Holy Bull), who was entered as a rabbit for his stablemate, inexplicably dueled
through fast fractions of :23 2/5, :46 3/5 and 1:11 1/5. Borrego swept past the
entire field in less than a quarter of a mile and was gone. He passed the mile
split in 1:36 3/5 and finished 1 1/4 miles over the fast track in 2:02 4/5.
After placing in eight stakes, Borrego earned his first black-type victory in
his previous start, the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1), with another bold
last-to-first move, and Saturday’s performance clearly stamped him as a top
contender for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on October 29.
“This is two ‘millions’ in a row,” Greely exclaimed. “When I saw :46 (and
change), I loved it. I told Garrett in the paddock to do what he did in the
Pacific Classic…Garrett did a great job with him. I think he has definitely
developed. That being said, we have the next level (Breeders’ Cup Classic) to
step up to now. Today, I am delighted. I like to think I have the horse to beat.
He excels at a mile and a quarter.”
Sent off the 4-1 third choice, Borrego paid $10.60, $5 and $4.20. Suave (A.P.
Indy) rallied well to take second at 12-1 and gave back $11.80 and $9.90. It was
another 5 3/4 lengths back to 7-1 Sun King (Charismatic), who was worth $6.40.
The exacta returned $102 and the 3-2-4 trifecta $660. Flower Alley finished five
lengths behind Sun King in fourth and was followed under the wire by Imperialism
(Langfuhr), Grand Reward (Storm Cat), Lava Man (Slew City Slew) and Bishop Court
Hill.
Bred in Kentucky by Kelly, Scott, Greely and Dr. Sam Bradley, Borrego
finished second in the Arkansas Derby (G2), Louisiana Derby (G2) and Super Derby
(G2) at three and recorded a third in the Santa Anita H. (G1) and a second in
the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) earlier this season. With Saturday’s prestigious
win, he improved his career line to 19-5-6-2 with $2,052,090 in earnings. The
chestnut colt is out of the Strike the Gold mare Sweet as Honey, who is the dam
of a yearling colt named Lord of the Wings (Festival of Light) and a weanling
filly by Aptitude.