Moyglare Stud’s homebred Speaking of Which had been something of an
underachiever this season, but the Christophe Clement trainee finally broke
through with his first American graded victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000
Tropical Turf Handicap at Calder. Well handled by Joe Bravo, the Irish Group
3 veteran swept down the center of the course to outkick hedge-skimming 2-1
favorite Tetradrachm by a length.
Speaking of Which was one of two Clement entrants, along with defending
champion Philly Ace. But Philly Ace had not run since his victory in the 2012
Tropical Turf, and he ended up being scratched from this projected comeback.
Pegged at 10-1 on the morning line, Speaking of Which was bet down to the
fourth choice at 9-2. The well-bred son of Invincible Spirit had shown real
talent for Dermot Weld in 2012. After romping in the Gallinule at the Curragh in
just his third career start, he concluded his Irish career with a third versus
older horses in the Kilternan at Leopardstown. Speaking of Which shipped to
Southern California for the Twilight Derby, where he looked home free before
being nailed by Grandeur at the wire. He had much worse luck next time in the
Hollywood Derby. Drafting just behind the leaders turning for home, he appeared
to clip heels, checked badly, and never recovered, just loping home last.
Speaking of Which subsequently joined Clement, but disappointed as the 7-5
favorite in the May 4 Fort Marcy. He rebounded from that last-of-six effort when
outclassing allowance foes at Monmouth on June 21. Back up in class for the July
13 Man o’ War, Speaking of Which made an early move before fading to seventh.
The four-year-old was not seen again until the November 10 Three Coins Up at
Aqueduct, closing belatedly for fifth. Speaking of Which figured to improve off
that tightener, and he put it all together on Saturday.
As expected, Heiko set up shop on the front end and carved out tepid splits
of :24 2/5, :50 and 1:14 1/5 on the good turf course. Bad Debt stalked in
second, with Tetradrachm well placed on the inside and Grand Tito in striking
range on the outside. Speaking of Which was nestled among horses in fifth, but
traveling superbly and giving the impression of a coiled spring.
Although Bad Debt accosted Heiko turning for home, Speaking of Which and
Tetradrachm were making smart headway into contention on either side of the
battling leaders. Tetradrachm had the advantage of saving all of the ground, but
Speaking of Which was building up irresistible momentum wider out. Speaking of
Which forged clear to finish 1 1/8 miles in 1:50 and rewarded his loyalists with
$11.20 to win.
Tetradrachm crossed the wire three-quarters of a length ahead of Bad Debt,
and Heiko checked in another half-length away in fourth. Next came Grand Tito,
Paris Vegas, Reflecting, Exothermic and Live in Joy. Main-track-only entrants
Csaba and Ducduc were withdrawn in favor of the Grade 3 Fred W. Hooper one race
later, where Csaba scored and Ducduc ran last.
The Irish-bred Speaking of Which has now earned $187,903 from his 11-4-2-1
record. The dark bay is out of the unraced Mr. Prospector mare Suitably
Discreet, making him a half-brother to the Group 2-placed Capital Exposure.
Suitably Discreet is in turn a half-sister to Grade/Group 2 hero Century City,
who placed in the 2002 Irish Two Thousand Guineas and 2003 Breeders’ Cup Mile,
as well as to stakes scorer Hidden Cat, dam of multiple stakes winner Global
Power and stakes scorer Pegasusbystorm.
Speaking of Which’s second dam is Canadian Hall of Famer Alywow, who ranked
as Canada’s Horse of the Year, champion turf horse and champion three-year-old
filly in 1994. Alywow was produced by Grade 3 victress Triple Wow, ancestress of
Grade 3 victress Wow Me Free and 2012 Premio Parioli (Italian Two Thousand
Guineas) winner Malossol. Further back in the family is current Pennsylvania
Governor’s Cup hero Tightend Touchdown, a dead-heat second in the November 2
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
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