by Tommy Raymond
Treadway Racing Stable’s Maraud bided his time running midpack in the $300,000 American Turf Stakes (G2) on Kentucky Derby Saturday at Churchill Downs before the Todd Pletcher-trained sophomore made a winning rally on the outside to prove best under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.
The American Turf has become a bit of a family affair, as his older half-brother Arklow, who is by Arch, notched a win in this same event a year ago.
On a course labeled yielding, Speed Franco and jockey Javier Castellano posted fractions of :23.79, :48.39 and 1:13.96 as the field gave chase in the 1 1/16-mile test. The eventual winner, back in eighth after a quarter, slowly began to hit his stride while staying out of trouble and picking off one horse after another.
Finally, under a couple of left-handed taps from Velazquez, the long-striding bay cleared his rivals in midstretch while running five wide, stopping the clock in 1:47.52.
Velazquez wasn’t certain if the colt would take to the softened ground.
“I didn’t think my horse liked the soft turf,” he said. “I took (a) chance, took him back and tried to make one run with him. He showed me something and came through for me. The turf is very, very soft now after all the rain.”
Sent off at odds of 8-1, the son of Blame returned payouts of $18.80, $8.40 and $6.20 to his backers. Captivating and Untamed Domain dead-heated for second, 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner. The former paid out $5.40 and $6.40, while Untamed Domain’s supporters were rewarded with returns of $4.60 and $5.80. The exacta completed by Captivating Moon returned $79.40, and the one with Untamed Domain $69.80.
Following the trio past the line were Arawak, River Boyne, Channel Cat, Speed Franco, Tigers Rule, Inscom, Admiralty Pier, Threeandfourpence, Pont du Gard, Dragon Drew and Tiz Mischief. Alternative Route and Rushing Fall were scratched.
For his efforts, Maraud added the American Turf to his win in the March 3 Palm Beach Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park for his second graded score. He now has four wins from seven starts and a bankroll of $337,770.
For Velazquez, it was his second victory in this race, the first coming in 2001 aboard Strategic Partner. It was also the second for Pletcher, who earned his initial score with Doubles Partner in 2010.
Bred in Kentucky by John R. and Frank Penn, Maraud sold twice in the auction ring, first for $100,000 at Keeneland September, then last year at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic, from which he fetched a bid of $375,000.
He is out of the Empire Maker mare Unbridled Empire and is the mare’s second graded winner after the aforementioned Arklow. Unbridled Empire has an unnamed yearling colt by Will Take Charge. Among those Unbridled Empire counts as half-siblings are Grade 1 winners Fourty Niners Son and Cindy’s Hero.
Pletcher added that the July 7 Belmont Derby Invitational (G1) is a hoped for goal for Maraud.
