Castledale returns to the turf in winning fashion
Frank Lyons and Greg Knee’s CASTLEDALE (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) came on to win the $111,250
San
Francisco Breeders’ Cup Mile H. (G2) over the firm Bay Meadows turf Saturday.
Getting out to the early lead was Night Patrol (Storm Boot), who set fractions of :25 2/5, :49 3/5 and 1:13 3/5 as he battled with Imitation (Grand
Slam) to the outside. As the latter faded, Night Patrol was still able to
maintain the lead through the next call of 1:25 2/5, but eventually gave way as
the closers made their moves. Castledale remained to the inside as the pack
advanced around the second turn, and split Night Patrol and Imitation at the
furlong pole under jockey Rene Douglas with Adreamisborn (Kris S.) closing as
well. Castledale prevailed in the end, taking the one-mile contest by a
half-length in 1:37 2/5.
The Jeff Mullins trainee left the gate as the 3-2 favorite and paid $5, $3.20
and $2.60 for his efforts, leading $1 exotics of $8.50 (exacta) and $146.80
(trifecta). Adreamisborn returned $3.80 and $2.60 at 3-1 for second while Aly
Bubba (Alymagic) gave $7.40 at 52-1. Terroplane (Fr) (Verglas [Ire]) rounded out
the 3-1-6-5 $1 superfecta which paid $428.70. Night Patrol, Imitation, Night
Bokbel (Ire) (Night Shift), Private Chef (Partner’s Hero) and Gold Ruckus (Gold
Alert) completed the order of finish.
Castledale was bred in Ireland by Gigginstown House Stud and is out of Louju
(Silver Hawk). He now shows a line of 15-4-5-1 with $634,623 in earnings. This
is his third graded stakes score with the others coming in last year’s Santa
Anita Derby (G1) and the 2003 Generous S. (G3).