Gran Estreno rallies to victory in Bradley

The eight-year-old Gran Estreno continues to amaze trainer Mike Stidham (Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges Jr.) Feel the Thunder Stable’s GRAN ESTRENO (Arg) (Lucky Roberto) swept past Dubious Miss (E Dubai) and bounded 1 1/4 lengths clear in Saturday’s $99,000 Colonel E.R. Bradley H. (G3) at Fair Grounds. Trained by Mike Stidham and ridden by Anna Napravnik, the eight-year-old took 1:46 to negotiate about 1 1/16 miles on the yielding turf and returned $8.20, $4.40 and $3.20 as the 3-1 second choice. Perhaps best known in North America as the hero of the past two editions of the Washington Park H. (G3) over Arlington Park’s Polytrack, Gran Estreno was making his third straight start over this course and distance. He was just run down late by Strike Again (Dixie Union) when second in the December 4 Buddy Diliberto Memorial H., and prepped for this engagement with a half-length optional claiming score on December 22. Gran Estreno was settled in a stalking position while 5-2 favorite Red Strike (Smart Strike) carved out splits of :25, :50 4/5 and 1:16. Dubious Miss (E Dubai) kept close watch on the leader throughout, but Amazing Results (Grand Slam) tugged his way up along the inside to sit just off Red Strike’s heels. Amazing Result’s bold move petered out on the far turn, though, and he soon gave way. Likewise Insider Tip (El Prado [Ire]) briefly loomed on the far turn, only to fade out of contention.

Turning into the stretch, both Dubious Miss and Gran Estreno accosted Red
Strike, and the field’s elder statesmen clearly had more momentum than the
lightly-raced four-year-old. Of the two challengers, Gran Estreno was going the
better, and he pulled away to win his first graded event on the U.S. turf.

“He settled in a good spot,” Napravnik said. “I didn’t think we were going
too slow to make up any ground, and he’s just a great horse to ride and a very
cool ride and fired when I asked him.

“I have never been on him before, but I’ve seen him go all the time and I
always wanted to breeze him or ride him because he looks like a cool horse. He
was everything that I thought he’d be.”

“He continues to amaze me,” Stidham said. “He’s amazed me in his last four or
five races, like he’s almost changed his style as an eight-year-old.

“He’s really adaptable. He can be on the front end or sit right off. I talked
to Rosie (Napravnik) and she watched the films on him. Basically said just sit
where he is comfortable and he will have one good kick for you.

“Rosie was riding for us this summer at Delaware and she was the leading
rider there. We knew she’s got a tremendous amount of ability and she fits our
horses well. She works with us in the morning and it’s a good combination.”

The seven-year-old Dubious Miss, who finished second by a length, paid $6.20
and $3.80 as the co-third choice at 5-1. Joinem (Johar) closed from the back of
the pack, and shrugged off a bumping match with Strike Again, to garner third in
his stakes debut. The other 5-1 third choice, Joinem yielded $3.60. The exotics
totaled $51.40 (exacta), $205 (trifecta) and $777.20 (2-6-4-3 superfecta) with
Red Strike another 3 1/4 lengths back in fourth. Strike Again failed to confirm
his Diliberto form with Gran Estreno and wound up fifth, followed by Midnight
Mischief (Medaglia d’Oro), Insider Tip and Amazing Results. Southern Anthem
(Royal Anthem) was scratched.

Gran Estreno has now earned $543,175 from a 35-14-5-7 line. Bred in Argentina
by Eduardo Carlos Luther, Gran Estreno is out of the Senor Pete mare Great
Stampa. He captured the 2006 Gran Premio Jockey Club (Arg-G1) in his native
land, but raced sparingly in the United States in 2007 and 2008. Dropped into
the claiming ranks in early 2009, Gran Estreno was twice haltered for $20,000 at
Gulfstream Park. The chestnut captured the Claiming Crown Emerald S. at
Canterbury that summer prior to his first victory in the Washington Park, which
capped a six-race win skein. In 2010, Gran Estreno finished third in the Hanshin
Cup S. (G3) two starts prior to his successful title defense in the Washington
Park.