Robert LaPenta’s March (Blame) rallied last-to-first in Saturday’s $300,000
Irad Ortiz Jr. was up on the Chad Brown-trained winner.
Making his second stakes attempt, March surged past four rivals to strike the front inside the eighth-pole
Unraced since finishing fifth in his stakes debut, the February 7 Withers
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The dark bay colt was making his fourth career start, finishing second first-time
out on November 29 before breaking his maiden over the inner track on January
11, and increased his earnings to $237,500 from a 4-2-1-0 scorecard.
Longshot Papa Upa (Katharos) showed the way early, establishing splits in :23
and :46 3/5 as March trailed down the backstretch, five lengths back with
three-eighths of a mile remaining. The winner unleashed his move entering the
stretch drive and completed seven furlongs in 1:24 3/5 on the fast track.
Lord Nelson, the 2-1 second choice, broke slowly and rushed up the inside in
traffic before putting on the brakes, reportedly resenting the kickback as he
dropped back to the rear of the field. He was angled extremely wide through the
bend and looked hopelessly beaten while turning for home in the middle of the
track, threatening to finish last. But Lord Nelson suddenly discovered his best
stride after straightening into the stretch, offering an eye-catching closing
kick to just miss on the wire.
It was another 4 1/4 lengths back to 6-5 favorite Ready in Rye in third.
Bred in Kentucky by Lakland Farm, March sold for $320,000 as a weanling at
the 2012 Keeneland November sale. He’s out of Lifeinthefastlane (Unbridled’s
Song), making him a half-brother to 2010 Bay Shore winner Eightyfiveinafifty
(Forest Camp).
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