Marc Keller’s GRAND COUTURIER (GB) (Grand Lodge) provided his own twist for
the old proverb and showed that sometimes the fourth try can be the charm in
Sunday’s $158,500
Bowling Green H. (G2) at Belmont Park. Fifth in each of his first three
starts of 2009, the multiple Grade 1 winner finally put it all together in his
fourth outing of the campaign. The Bobby Ribaudo veteran got the yielding turf
he relishes, as well as a frenetic pace up front, to set the stage for his
last-to-first rally. Sweeping past Winchester (Theatrical [Ire]) in midstretch,
Grand Couturier strode two lengths clear and finished 1 3/8 miles in 2:15 4/5.
In a surprising development, Presque Isle Downs shipper Up to No Good (Ecton
Park) sprinted to a long lead and blazed his way through testing fractions of
:22 4/5 and :46 2/5. Twelve lengths in front at the half-mile split, the
pacesetter began his inexorable decline while passing six furlongs in 1:13 2/5
with an eight-length margin that was already evaporating. Through it all, Grand
Couturier was anchoring the eight-horse field.
Thabazimbi (Empire Maker), who had been racing in second, overtook the
rapidly-weakening Up to No Good entering the far turn. Moving virtually in
tandem with Thabazimbi was Winchester. Just a head back of the new leader
through one mile in 1:39, Winchester put Thabazimbi away turning for home.
Meanwhile, Grand Couturier was gaining rapidly for Alan Garcia. Winchester
stayed on resolutely on the inside, but Grand Couturier was too strong in the
closing stages as he asserted his back class. The 8-5 favorite returned $5.20,
$3.10 and $2.20.
“It’s a relief,” Ribaudo said. “How good the race was, or not, we’ll try to
get a better look at it. The horse was aggressive down the backside, which he
hadn’t been in his last few races; these are things you want to see.
“If he did go (for a title defense) in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic
(Invitational [G1] on October 3), it’s going to be a lot tougher and he’s going
to have to step up off this,” the trainer noted. “As nice as this was, it’s the
next step he has to get to in order to be where he was this time last year.
“But, we’re going in the right direction. Before the race, we didn’t know. He
was always doing well, it’s not like he changed — it was a good vote of
confidence for all of us. That’s why we ran today.”
“My horse was a little rough by the three-eighths pole, but he was ready to
run when it came time to go,” Garcia said. “I was waiting, waiting, and turning
for home my horse decided to take off and he was much the best today.”
Winchester, the 4-1 third choice, yielded $4.40 and $3.20. Another 7 1/4
lengths adrift came Thabazimbi, worth $5.20 at 12-1. The exotics totaled $27
(exacta), $177 (trifecta) and $698 (8-4-6-5 superfecta) with Colony (Ire)
(Statue of Liberty) in fourth. Gentleman Chester (Chester House) reported home
fifth, followed by Americain (Dynaformer), Ready Set (Touch Gold) and a
tailed-off Up to No Good. Expansion (Maria’s Mon) was scratched.
Grand Couturier’s record now stands at 22-8-0-5 with a bankroll to the tune
of $1,351,385. The six-year-old bay ranks as one of the leading lights in the
East Coast turf division. In addition to dominating last year’s Joe Hirsch by 10
1/4 lengths, Grand Couturier captured consecutive editions of the Sword Dancer
Invitational S. (G1) at Saratoga in 2007-08. Last time out, he was bidding to
become the first horse ever to win three Sword Dancers, but he wound up fifth.
Grand Couturier has also placed in four American stakes, including the 2006
Sword Dancer in his U.S. debut and the 2007 Man o’ War S. (G1). Prior to coming
to the United States, Grand Couturier flashed talent as a three-year-old in
France. He garnered the Derby du Midi, placed third in the Prix Noailles (Fr-G2)
and finished fourth to eventual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) winner Rail
Link in the Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-G1).
Bred in Great Britain by Tom Wilson, Grand Couturier sold for only $6,594 as
a yearling at Tattersalls October. He is out of Lady Elgar (Ire) (Sadler’s
Wells), who is also the dam of English stakes victress Yaqeen (GB) (Green
Desert). Lady Elgar is a full sister to Desert Fox, third in the 1998 Irish
Derby (Ire-G1) and later a stakes winner in Hong Kong. She is also a half-sister
to multiple Grade 3 scorers Home of the Free (Hero’s Honor) and Poolesta (Ire)
(Hero’s Honor).
Grand Couturier’s third dam, 1976 Test S. (G3) winner and Spinster S. (G1)
runner-up Ivory Wand (Sir Ivor), is the dam of Italian and German champion Gold
and Ivory (Key to the Mint). This is the family of 1999 champion two-year-old
male Anees (Unbridled), Irish highweight Rossini (Miswaki) and multiple Grade 3
hero and noted sire Elusive Quality (Gone West).