Bashart Wires Field in With Anticipation
Continuing to show the determination displayed in his maiden victory, Rosedown Racing's homebred 2-year-old Bashart went to the front Thursday and staved off challenges at the top of the stretch to win the Grade 2, $200,000 With Anticipation on the turf at Saratoga Race Course.
Ridden by meet-leading rider Javier Castellano for trainer Todd Pletcher, Bashart struck out to the lead from his inside post position through an opening half-mile in 47.20 seconds, closely followed by Base Case Scenario and favorite We Miss Artie.
On the turn for home, Base Case Scenario bid for the lead from between horses, but Bashart spurted away to score by 1 ¼ lengths ahead of late-running River Dancer. The final time was 1:41.97 for 1 1/16 miles.
Marvin's Miracle finished third. Tiger Bourbon, who turned back Bashart to win the debut of both horses July 12 at Belmont Park, made little impact in his first two-turn start and finished fourth, while Base Case Scenario backed up to fifth.
We Miss Artie, also trained by Pletcher, and Racetrack Romance completed the order of finish in the seven-horse field.
"Javier kind of let him run away from there, and he made the lead and relaxed," Pletcher said of Bashart, who returned $7.70 for a $2 win bet. "The turf course has been [speed-favoring] the past seven to 10 days, so it was a good spot to be. He responded every time they came to him. He found a little more."
Pletcher raced Bashart in the With Anticipation just 11 days after his last start, a half-length score in a 1 1/16-mile maiden turf race; he said it was to put the War Front colt on a schedule to get in another race before a possible run in the Breeders' Cup.
That race, Pletcher said, likely will be on October 6 at Belmont Park in the Grade 3, $200,000 Pilgrim at 1 1/16 miles on grass, a 2013 Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" Challenge race, which automatically qualifies the winner to run in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita Park.
The victory in the With Anticipation was the second in three starts for Bashart, and the winning purse of $120,000 increased his lifetime bankroll to $178,000.