Pletcher pupils capture off-the-turf Pilgrim, Miss Grillo
Juvenile turfistes were all set to square off in a pair of Breeders’ Cup
preps at Belmont Park on Sunday, but most wound up scratching to fight another
day when both the $154,500
Pilgrim
S. and the $141,000
Miss
Grillo S. were rained off the turf. Trainer Todd Pletcher made the most of
the surface switch, sweeping both stakes with maidens. After sending out Smarch
Racing’s DAD’S CRAZY (Langfuhr) to capture the Miss Grillo, he saddled Zayat
Stables’ ESKENDEREYA (Giant’s Causeway) to romp in the Pilgrim.
Originally carded as Grade 3 races, both were downgraded to listed status,
pending review by the American Graded Stakes Committee. They were also shortened
from 1 1/16 miles to a flat mile on the good main track.
In the Pilgrim, an early speed duel developed between Bricklayer (El Corredor)
and 9-5 favorite Western Flyer (More Than Ready). The former kept his head in
front through fractions of :23 4/5 and :47 4/5, but Western Flyer got the better
of his pace rival by the time they reached six furlongs in 1:12 4/5.
Meanwhile, Eskendereya, who had been anchored in the latter part of the
five-horse field, was traveling ominously well on the heels of the leaders on
the far turn. Slipping through along the inside beneath Javier Castellano, the
chestnut colt roared past Western Flyer and went on to open up by 7 1/4 lengths.
Eskendereya completed one mile in 1:37 4/5, paying $7.20, $2.90 and $2.20 as the
5-2 second choice.
“With the small field, Todd told me in the paddock to take my time,”
Castellano said. “I had a perfect trip today. On the turn, when I saw the horses
splitting, I asked my horse and he responded.”
“It was a very good effort,” Pletcher said. “The horse had trained very well
and we knew he was an improving horse. He got excluded from a maiden race, so we
decided to take a shot in the stake and then when it came off we had a decision
to make, but we felt like the horse had improved in his training recently on the
dirt and felt like it was worth taking a shot.
“I was particularly pleased with the way he finished up and the way he
galloped out, I’d say that he’s typical of the Giant’s Causeways and probably
good on any surface. We’ll talk to the owners about his next start; we have a
lot of options.”
Western Flyer held second by 1 1/2 lengths and returned $3.40 and $2.30.
Chairman Now (Tiznow), the main track-only entrant, raced in third throughout.
Show was good for $2.40 at 5-2, and the exotics totaled $22 (exacta) and $48.20
(6-7-10 trifecta). The rest of the field was strung out by double-digit margins,
with Bricklayer fading to fourth and Dean’s Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) bringing up
the rear.
Scratched were Billions Boy (Johannesburg), Interactif (Broken Vow), Mr.
Vegas (Freud), Paddy O’Prado (El Prado [Ire]) and Shrimp Dancer (Kitten’s Joy).
Eskendereya, who finished second to Billions Boy at Saratoga in his only
prior start, has now bankrolled $104,700. Bred by Sanford R. Robertson in
Kentucky, he was a $250,000 Keeneland September yearling. His
half-brother, Balmont (Stravinsky), was a top-class two-year-old in England,
garnering the Middle Park S. (Eng-G1) and Gimcrack S. (Eng-G2), before going on
to become a multiple Group 1-placed sprinter. Eskendereya also has a pair of
younger siblings, an unnamed yearling half-sister by Henny Hughes and a weanling
three-quarter sister by First Samurai.
Out of the winning Seattle Slew mare Aldebaran Light, Eskendereya comes from
the family of Kentucky Derby (G1) hero Cannonade (Bold Bidder), Grade 1 winners
Stephan’s Odyssey (Danzig) and Lotka (Danzig), and further back, influential
sires Halo (Hail to Reason) and Northern Dancer (Nearctic).
The Miss Grillo featured only three runners, and Dad’s Crazy was sent off as
the 4-1 third choice in her dirt debut. Main track-only entrant Fuzzy Britches
(Pollard’s Vision) sprinted to a clear lead through an opening quarter in :24
1/5. Tapitsfly (Tapit), the 1-2 favorite, moved up to engage the pacesetter
through splits of :48 3/5 and 1:14 2/5.
Dad’s Crazy was content to stalk the pair until turning for home, when she
launched her bid on the outside. Driving 3 1/4 lengths clear for Julien Leparoux,
the bay finished the mile in 1:40 and returned $10.20. There was no place, show
or exotic wagering. Tapitsfly gamely outdueled Fuzzy Britches by a neck for
second.
Smart Seattle (Smart Strike), Zilva (Successful Appeal), Zodiac Girl (Aldebaran),
Negligee (Northern Afleet), Hatheer (Storm Cat) and Check the Label (Stormin
Fever) were all withdrawn.
“It was too good an opportunity to pass up when the field scratched down,”
Pletcher said. “She may be a better filly on turf, but she had trained well on
dirt. It worked out well. We’ll look for something for her towards the end of
the meet.”
“Todd told me in the paddock that she’s a difficult horse to get to relax,
but she relaxed very well for me today and finished well,” Leparoux said. “It
was perfect sitting right behind the other two horses today. The main goal was
to get her to relax and keep her covered up. I think she will run on anything.”
Dad’s Crazy, a $150,000 OBS February two-year-old, improved her record to
4-1-1-0, $107,480. Fourth and fifth in her first two maiden attempts, she was
most recently a closing second to Hatheer in a maiden at Saratoga.
Bred by William B. Harrigan in Kentucky, Dad’s Crazy is the second registered
foal from the winning Charismatic Lady (End Sweep), whose latest offspring is an
unnamed yearling full sister to the winner. Dad’s Crazy’s third dam, Grade 3
heroine Marshua’s Echelon (Marshua’s Dancer), produced Malibu S. (G1) victor Run
Man Run (Theatrical [Ire]).