Interactif doesn’t wait around in With Anticipation

Interactif is a descendant of the great Personal Ensign (Equi-Sport Photos) Wertheimer and Frere’s homebred INTERACTIF (Broken Vow), a fading eighth in his stakes debut in the July 30 Sanford S. (G2), relished the switch to turf in Friday’s $109,500 With Anticipation S. (G3) at Saratoga. The Todd Pletcher juvenile unleashed an explosive burst of acceleration on the far turn, cleared away in the stretch, and rolled to an impressive 4 1/4-length score beneath Kent Desormeaux. Overlooked at 15-1 in his turf bow, Interactif rewarded his backers with mutuels of $33.60, $12 and $5.70. Interactif raced in sixth early, 4 1/4 lengths behind the front-running Mississippi Hippie (Dance Master), through an opening quarter in :23 4/5. While the pacesetter reeled off a half-mile in :48 4/5, Interactif advanced into a stalking third, and the eventual winner surged to the lead through six furlongs in 1:12 2/5. Never challenged thereafter, the bay colt kicked away to complete 1 1/16 miles on the firm turf in 1:41 2/5.

“I think this is a very serious horse,” Desormeaux said. “He gave me a
serious ride. When I asked him to run, he exploded. He was just floating along
the course. His ears were up and he was focused. He was watching where he was
going and paying attention to what was in front of him. I was fearful about him
being aggressive since he was coming out of those sprint races. Todd knew he
would enjoy the grass and I am appreciative of the opportunity to ride him.”

“It wasn’t the plan (to try him on the turf) until he worked on the grass the
other day (a half-mile move in :48.95 on August 28),” Pletcher revealed. “I
thought he worked exceptionally well and he has a little turf pedigree on the
bottom side. He was a colt that had shown talent, but we thought maybe we were
missing a step.  It’s nice when they produce the way you hoped they would.
I was impressed with the margin he won by and the way he kicked through the
lane.”

Jung Man Scott (Freud), the slight 2-1 favorite, rallied into second in the
stretch and just held that spot by a nose from the closing Paddy O’Prado (El
Prado [Ire]). The runner-up returned $5.20 and $3 and concluded the $152.50
exacta. Paddy O’Prado, who had been last of nine throughout the early going, did
his best work late to grab third by three-quarters of a length and paid $2.70 as
the 2-1 second choice. The trifecta totaled $667.

Dean’s Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) reported home fourth, followed by Zapster (Ghostzapper),
Golly Day (Lion Heart), Two Notch Road (Partner’s Hero), Mississippi Hippie and
Red Rally (Reformer Rally). Scratched were Strike the Tiger (Tiger Ridge), who
is entered in Monday’s Cradle S. at River Downs; the also-eligible Quick Money
(City Zip); and the main track-only hopes Aikenite (Yes It’s True) and Turf
Melody (Maria’s Mon).

The Kentucky-bred Interactif, who captured his career debut on the dirt at
Monmouth on July 5, has now bankrolled $89,250 from his 3-2-0-0 line. Out of the
unraced Broad Brush mare Broad Pennant, he is a half-brother to stakes winner
and Grade 3-placed Stretching (Red Ransom), multiple French Group 3-placed
Wingspan (Silver Hawk), a yearling filly named Aurore (Arch) and a 2009 filly
named Unicity (Dynaformer).

Interactif’s second dam, the winning Pennant Champion (Mr. Prospector), is a
full sister to Grade 1 winners Miner’s Mark and Traditionally, as well as the
multiple Grade 1-placed Our Emblem. The colt’s third dam is unbeaten Hall of
Famer Personal Ensign (Private Account), who has also produced multiple Grade 1
star My Flag (Easy Goer), herself the dam of 2002 champion two-year-old filly,
Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat). This is the immediate family of current Dixie S.
(G2) hero and Pacific Classic (G1) entrant Parading (Pulpit).