Trainer Rick Dutrow could have a nice older horse next year in Jay Em Ess
Stable’s Redeemed, who reeled off a comfortable win Saturday in the Grade 3,
$100,000
Discovery Handicap at Aqueduct over fellow three-year-olds. Under Edgar Prado, Redeemed enjoyed a perfect trip tracking long-time leader Ghost Gunner,
took over from that rival after six furlongs, then strolled home an easy 2
1/4-length winner in a time of 1:49 1/5 for nine furlongs over a fast track. He
returned $4.90, $2.80 and $2.10 as the 7-5 favorite.
Ghost Gunner maintained a 1 1/2-length advantage over Redeemed through splits
of :24 and :48 2/5, but was already starting to wilt under pressure from
Redeemed three furlongs out when he broke down. Ghost Gunner was immediately
pulled up by John Velazquez and vanned off.
Redeemed, who was able to avoid any trouble from his unfortunate rival,
opened up on the rest of the field and was never in danger of being caught.
Socialsaul, who tracked in behind Redeemed throughout, rallied to finish a clear
second by 3 3/4 lengths. Co-second choice Raison d’Etat barely edged Arthur’s
Tale for third. The order of finish was completed by Eltheeb, Golden Gulch and
Philly Ace.
“I have to tell you, he was very impressive to me today,” Dutrow said. “I was
not thinking I was going to see that, but I’m glad I did. Very impressive. He’s
run on every single different racetrack. I keep throwing scenarios at him, and
he keeps answering the bell. Man, I don’t know where he is going to end up but
we’re very happy to look for his next spot.
“We put the blinkers on him the last couple of times and that seems to have
moved him up a notch, too. Edgar really liked the way he responded last time and
today he was so impressive. To me, every step around there, I knew he was going
to win the race. When they came to him, he just spurted away again. It was
exciting. He’ll probably run at Gulfstream Park next.”
Victorious in three of his first four starts in overnight company, Redeemed
stepped up in class for the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes on August 1, where he ran
four lengths second to eventual Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile hero Caleb’s
Posse. Second again in the Smarty Jones Stakes at Parx Racing next out, Redeemed
notched his first career stakes win last time in the Oklahoma Derby at Remington
Park, defeating Grade 2 winner Alternation by a head going nine furlongs. His
record now stands at 8-5-2-1, $484,140.
Bred in Virginia by Morgan’s Ford Farm, Redeemed was a $50,000 Fasig-Tipton
Midlantic September yearling buy. Sire by Include and produced by the Pleasant Tap mare Early Mass,
he hails from the extended family of Oratorio, a multiple highweight in Europe;
Grade/Group 2 winners Talakeno, Give Me Strength and Andros Bay; and Codex,
winner of the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes in 1980.
Redeemed’s sixth dam was the Hall of Fame filly and noted Calumet Farm
matriarch Real Delight.