Winning Cause catches Heart to Heart in Red Bank

Winning Cause took advantage of a hot pace in the Red Bank (Bill Denver/EquiPhoto) Winning Cause’s (Giant’s Causeway) fondness for the Monmouth Park turf course was underscored once again Saturday when the five-year-old charged late to edge 8-5 favorite Heart to Heart (English Channel) in the $103,000 Red Bank (G3). Second in the Red Bank last year, the Todd Pletcher-trained chestnut later finished third in the Monmouth (G3), a solid fourth to grass champion Main Sequence (Aldeberan) in the United Nations (G1), and captured the Cliff Hanger (G3) in August. Near the back of the field as Mellow Fellow (The Cliff’s Edge) set scorching fractions of :22 2/5 and :44 4/5, Winning Cause continued to save ground approaching the stretch as Heart to Heart moved past a tiring Mellow Fellow after three-quarters in 1:08 2/5. Heart to Heart opened up a modest lead passing the eighth pole, but bearing down was Winning Cause, who had angled to the outside for running past, got past Aztec Brave (Pyrus) and caught the leader to win by a half-length. Owned by Alto Racing and ridden by Abel Castellano Jr., Winning Cause completed one mile on firm ground in 1:32 1/5 and paid $14.

“I expected the speed early on and we sat very easy on the backstretch,”
Castellano said. “He seemed to find an extra gear coming down the stretch and
once he found a hole, I knew it was going to be really close.”

Heart to Heart was a half-length clear of Aztec Brave, who was followed by
Rose Brier (Mizzen Mast), Guys Reward (Grand Reward), Slim Shadey (Val Royal),
and Mellow Fellow. Main track only entrants Adirondack King (Lawyer Ron), Edge
of Reality (Lawyer Ron), and Red Vine (Candy Ride) were scratched.

Besides the Red Bank and Cliff Hanger, Winning Cause’s other stakes wins
include the 2013 Lexington S. (G3) at Keeneland and Sir Cat S. at Saratoga. He
has placed in nine other stakes and preceded this victory with a seventh in a
March 6 Gulfstream allowance in his only other start of the year. His record now
stands at 26-6-7-3, $642,734.

Bred in Kentucky by Galleria Bloodstock, Winning Cause was reared by
Raffishing Look (Kingmambo), a half-sister to Grade 3 queen Society Hostess
(Seeking the Gold).

Winning Cause’s third dam was Grenzen (Grenfall), whose other descendants
include Belmont S. (G1) winner Go and Go (Be My Guest), Irish highweight Refuse
to Bend (Sadler’s Wells), Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1) hero Media Puzzle (Theatrical),
and Grade 1 winners Twilight Agenda (Devil’s Bag) and Rich Tapestry (Holy Roman
Emperor).

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