Acorn undercard: Brown saddles 2 for Grade 1 glory

Elmont, N.Y.

Marketsegmentation broke through at the top flight with a gate-to-wire score in Friday’s Grade 1, $600,000 New York Stakes, a 10-furong inner turf test for older fillies and mares, at Belmont Park.

The win gave trainer Chad Brown victories in the first two Grade 1s of the Belmont Stakes racing festival. 

Owner Seth Klarman, who also sent out third-place finisher McKulick under his Klaravich Stables banner, said he was thrilled with the result for the 4-year-old American Pharoah filly, who entered from a prominent score in the 1 1/16-mile Beaugay (G3) on May 7 at Belmont Park.

"She's improved every race. She's solid,” said Klarman. “She always tries. We thought she might be the only speed and it set up, and sometimes that's dangerous. To win a race like this, a Grade 1, and to have a filly advance like that and another filly that ran third, it's an exciting time."

Brown, who now boasts a standalone record five New York wins, won the Just a Game (G1) earlier on the card with Peter Brant’s In Italian and noted the stablemates could meet up in the nine-furlong $500,000 Diana (G1) on July 15 at Saratoga Race Course.

"She has gotten better every single race and you love to see horses like that. You have to think about the Diana next,” said the four-time Eclipse Award-winning conditioner. “I think a cut (back) to a mile and an eighth wouldn't bother her at all. She's got a big grizzly bear to run against. But I'm not afraid to run multiple horses like this and let them settle it on the track."

War Like Goddess, the 3-5 mutuel favorite under Joel Rosario, was last-of-7 down the backstretch as Marketsegmentation dictated the tempo through splits of 50.26 seconds and 1:15.29.

Marketsegmentation led the field into the final turn with the streaking Didia looming a threat from third position as War Like Goddess was given her cue from the back of the pack by Rosario. But when Ortiz asked Marketsegmentation for more as the field straightened away, his filly responded in kind and kicked clear as Didia dug in to try and make a race of it and reluctantly settled for second as the winner scored by three-quarters-of-a-length in a final time of 2:02.12.

It was a further 1 3/4-lengths back to McKulick, who got the better of a five-horse photo by nosing out Flirting Bridge for third. It was a head back to Virginia Joy in fifth, who was a nose better than War Like Goddess. Shantisara landed another neck back to round out the order of finish. With The Moonlight was scratched.

Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous holds on in Acorn

“She relaxed very well, she set some slow fractions in the half and down the backside, I felt very comfortable,” said Ortiz.

Brown credited Ortiz for engineering a perfect trip.

“We put her in here and it was Jose's first time on her, but he rode her like he's always ridden her her whole life. He got along with her beautifully and carved out the fractions just right,” said Brown, who previously won this event with Dacita (2016), Fourstar Crook (2018), Homerique (2019) and Bleecker Street (2022).

Marketsegmentation finished a close third in her stakes debut in February in the Endeavour (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs and followed with a rallying neck score in the Sand Springs on April 1 at Gulfstream Park ahead of her Beaugay coup.

The Argentinian-bred Didia saw her seven-race win streak come to an end for trainer Ignacio Correas IV. The 5-year-old Orpen bay was a multiple Group 1-winner in her native country before arriving in the U.S. last year and notching a win in the Old Nelson at Colonial Downs. She won the Tom Benson Memorial in March at Fair Grounds ahead of a score in the Modesty (G3) in May at Churchill Downs en route to the New York.

“My filly ran very well. The winner was in front and was very relaxed. We had a good travel, too,” said jockey Vincent Cheminaud. “The winner was the best today, but my filly finished very well. I finished second and obviously I prefer to win, but I’m very happy.”

Correas said he would likely point Didia to the Beverly D. (G1) on Aug. 12 at Colonial Downs, a race he finished second in with Dona Bruja in 2017.

“She ran great. I can’t take nothing away from that,” said Correas. “There was no pace and you can’t do everything, you have to run your horses. You cannot ride the other horses. She ran great and I think she showed she belongs with this bunch of fillies.

“The year is long and we are going to look for more somewhere. I think we will leave the Diana to In Italian. My goal for the summer is the Beverly D. and after that we’ll figure it out. I do have unfinished business there."

Bred in Kentucky by Marcus Stables, Marketsegmentation banked $330,000 in victory while improving her record to 7: 5-1-1. She returned $14.20 for a $2 win ticket.

Odds-on In Italian scores in Just a Game

Owner Peter Brant enjoyed success for a second consecutive year in the race named for his 1980 Champion Grass Mare Just a Game when In Italian won the Grade 1 turf mile worth $500,000 for older and fillies and mares traveling one-mile on the Widener turf course at Belmont Park.

Trained by Brown, who saddled Brant’s Regal Glory to victory last year as part of a campaign that saw her earn Champion Grass Mare honors, In Italian was an easy wire-to-wire winner under Irad Ortiz Jr. after finishing third in this event last year. It marked the Dubawi mare’s fourth trip to the winner’s circle in a top-level event, and second this year after winning Keeneland’s Jenny Wiley (G1) in April for her seasonal bow.

"That was a nice race last year with Regal Glory, and this mare is spectacular,” said Brant. “She's probably as good as anyone we've ever had, and that's saying something. Irad followed Chad's instructions, which were to stay out there in front and try to make it as easy as possible. She pretty well controlled the race, which was nice because there were some very nice fillies in this field. I'm very fortunate. This is her second Group One this year and I hope she continues on.”

Away sharply from the inside post, In Italian quickly put two lengths between her and the pair of Wakanaka and the slow-starting Spendarella, who battled for second position as In Italian marked an opening quarter-mile in 24.47 seconds over the firm footing. New Year’s Eve, who also broke a step slow under Luis Saez, advanced up the rail to come into contention midway down the backstretch with the Brown-trained Speak of the Devil running rank on the outside path in last.

In Italian comfortably marked a half-mile in 47.95 as Ortiz, Jr. peeked back to see Spendarella making her bid to the outside of a retreating New Year’s Eve. There was little need for panic for Ortiz, Jr., who still had a tight hold on In Italian as the field rounded the turn and made its way into the stretch with Spendarella and Wakanaka ranging up on the outside.

Ortiz, Jr. opened his hands at the top of the lane and In Italian responded strongly, kicking clear from an improving Spendarella and widening her margin when shown a left-handed crop by Ortiz, Jr at the eighth pole. Wakanaka found her best stride late and made a lunge at Spendarella with Speak of the Devil in between foes, but there was no reeling in In Italian, who crossed the wire 3 3/4 lengths in front in a final time of 1:34.

Spendarella, the 2022 New York-bred Horse of the Year, persevered to the wire to hold onto place honors by one length over Wakanaka. New Year’s Eve and Speak of the Devil completed the order of finish.

Brown, who won this event for a record sixth time in the past seven runnings, praised the ride from Ortiz, Jr. and said In Italian’s sharpness from the gate is among her best weapons.

“In the post parade, Mr. Brant and I were speaking and he mentioned how good that she breaks. Of course, she broke well again,” Brown said. “The plan was if she could break well, to get out in front and off the rail so the horses behind her had to make a decision to either challenge a very fast horse pretty wide or you’re going to go up inside of her, which is not a great option either. I think Irad executed that well.”

In Italian provided Ortiz with his third Just a Game triumph, adding to scores with the Brown-trained A Raving Beauty (2018) and Newspaperofrecord (2020). The four-time Eclipse Award-winning rider said In Italian is especially professional.

“She’s really nice. I was a good passenger,” said Ortiz. “She did all the work. I feel like she was a little sharper today than last start and she just came out of there like a shot. I took her off the rail to keep her relaxed. I tried to sit on her and not move. She did [relax] and I let her do her thing close to the quarter-pole and she did the rest."

Both Brown and Brant expressed a desire to target the nine-furlong Grade 1, $500,000 Diana on July 15 at Saratoga Race Course, a race In Italian won last year by 1 1/2 lengths for her first Grade 1 triumph.

“I’d say if she’s healthy and comes out of it well, the spacing sure works for us,” said Brown. “She has no problem with the distance like you saw last year. As long as she breaks well in these races, she’s hard to beat.”

Bred in Great Britain by Fairway Thoroughbreds, In Italian banked $275,000 in victory while improving her lifetime record to 11-7-3-1. She returned $2.40 on a $2 win ticket as the 1-5 mutuel favorite.

Tyler Gaffalione, the pilot aboard runner-up Spendarella, said the Graham Motion-trained daughter of Karakontie ran courageously after a bobble at the start.

“It was a big effort,” said Gaffalione. “She stumbled coming away from there and was behind the eight-ball a little bit. She gathered herself nicely and traveled good. She kicked nicely and fought to keep second when the fillies came to her. It just wasn’t her day today.” 

Siskany rolls in Belmont Gold Cup for Appleby

Godolphin’s British homebred Siskany lived up to his heavy favoritism when pouncing to a two-length victory in Friday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Belmont Gold Cup, a two-mile Widener turf test for older horses, at Belmont Park.

Trained by Charlie Appleby and expertly piloted by William Buick, the bay son of Dubawi made his first trip to America well worth the while in scoring the winner’s share of $137,500 and providing Appleby with his second win at Belmont Park in the past month, adding to a triumph with Ottoman Fleet in the Fort Marcy (G2) in early May.

“It worked out really well. He’s a horse who hasn’t had all the luck in the world in his past races,” said Liam O’Rourke, director of studs, stallions & breeding for Darley Europe. “He had a lovely sit today and a lovely ride from William. They went slow early and I think that helped him. He’s got a big finishing kick and nothing got in his way. He was resolute to the line. A deserving winner. There’s no doubt he improves when he travels.”

Buick angled Siskany a couple paths from his inside stalking position to ensure racing room midway down the backstretch while L’Imperator quickly fizzled out after his ambitious bid. Tide of the Sea was once again in command through the latter part of the stretch and entering the final turn, but clung to a precarious lead as Channel Maker was asked for more from Luis Saez through 1 1/4 miles in 2:11.26.

“I thought getting him into the clear (on the backside) was a sensible thing to do,” Buick said. “He was the best horse in the race and it was an opportunity that arose. Channel Maker took me into the race and to get on the back of him was an obvious move at that point.”

A loaded Siskany loomed large on the outside as Amazing Grace rushed up the inside and took the lead at the top of the lane, but Siskany gained with every stride down the center of the course and came to even terms with his rival just past the eighth pole before kicking clear when shown a right-handed crop by Buick. An inside-rushing British Royalty passed a game Amazing Grace and The Grey Wizard made an impressive late run on the far outside from 11th, but was left with too much to do as Siskany prevailed in a final time of 3:23.94.

The Grey Wizard got up for place honors by a neck over British Royalty with Amazing Grace rounding out the superfecta another half-length back. Cibolian, High Definition, Tide of the Sea, Barbados, Strong Tide, Channel Maker, Tartini, L’Imperator and Cross Border completed the order of finish.

Buick, who rode the Appleby-trained Yibir to a third-place finish in last year’s Man o’ War (G1) at Belmont, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to return this year.

“It’s great to win at Belmont,” Buick said. “We came here with Yibir last year and that was a bit frustrating. Like I’ve said, to be able to come over here and get these rides and opportunities is a real privilege. There are a lot of good riders here who could ride these horses, so I’m very happy I get the call to ride when they come over, especially because we are in the middle of a European season, as well.”

Appleby said Siskany’s next start is likely to come back home in the U.K.

“Delighted with him,” said Appleby by phone from Newmarket. “He’s a good mile-and-six (furlong) horse (in the U.K.), two-miler (in the U.S.). He’s done that well today. Unfortunately, there’s nothing left for him there on the other side of the water, so we will likely bring him back here and then look to Dubai again and hopefully work our way back from a Belmont Gold Cup, again.”

Siskany, who also won the Nad Al Sheba Trophy (G3) in February at Meydan Racecourse, improved his lifetime record to 18: 7-3-3. He returned $3.70 on a $2 win ticket.

Graham Motion, trainer of runner-up The Grey Wizard, expressed pride in the son of Caravaggio when making the step up from a last-out allowance win in April at Keeneland.

"He ran super. I was very pleased with his race,” Motion said. “This was a big step up from his last race, absolutely. It was a good effort. He's very honest this horse. He hasn't done much wrong. I was very pleased with him. The winner is legit.”

Motion added the $135,000 John’s Call, a 1 5/8-mile marathon restricted to horses who have not won a Grade 1 or Grade 2 race this year, on Aug. 23 at Saratoga Race Course, could be a viable next start.

“Where do we run now? It's possible we may run him at Saratoga, maybe the John's Call or one of the mile-and-a-half races, definitely,” he said.

Poppy Flower prevails in photo finish in Intercontinental

Poppy Flower remained persistent into the stretch, overtaking five rivals in total and gaining the edge on pacesetter Bubble Rock in the shadow of the wire for a thrilling win by a nose in the Grade 3, $200,000 Intercontinental at six furlongs on the inner turf for older fillies and mares in Friday’s concluding race at Belmont Park.

Megan Jones, general manager and owner of Arnmore Farms, expressed delight in seeing the Kentucky homebred daughter of Lea and the Excellent Art mare Nisharora make the grade.

"We bred her, and raced the mare so this is very exciting, and this is her first foal so it's really thrilling,” Jones said. “Down the stretch we were cheering for her, but I didn't think she got there. (After they crossed the wire) we stayed sitting and then they showed the replay, and obviously, that was a nice surprise. That was amazing. When Poppy kicks, it's always unbelievable but it just didn't look like she got there, so we are thrilled.”

Poppy Flower, whose lone previous graded stakes appearance was a fifth-place effort in the 2021 Futurity (G3) at Belmont, saw Jose Ortiz give her a patient ride, tracking in fifth position as Bubble Rock, under Joel Rosario, led the eight-horse field through the opening quarter mile in 22.29 seconds and the half in 45.61 over firm going.

Out of the turn, Ortiz tipped out Poppy Flower, finding an open lane to the outside in picking off Bay Storm, Amy C and Goin’ Good with a strong late surge. Zeroing in on Bubble Rock, Poppy Flower completed the comeback by stopping the clock in 1:08.53.

It marked the first win in three attempts in Poppy Flower’s 4-year-old campaign following a third-place effort against optional-claiming company in April at Aqueduct Racetrack and a last-out runner-up finish in the License Fee last month at Belmont for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

Bubble Rock finished three-quarters of a length ahead of the Flavien Prat-piloted Amy C for second. The favorite Bay Storm was fourth, with Goin’ Good, Clitheroe, Messidor and Sarah Harper completing the order of finish.

“She tried hard and got a great trip,” said Mott, who notched his first career Intercontinental win. “He tipped her out in time, and she got there. I mean, she was rolling. She was going to be a half-length in front a couple of jumps past the wire but I wasn't sure she got there in time. That's a close finish. I wasn't sure she got there. She's one of those fillies that shows up every time, but today was an exceptionally good race.”

Poppy Flower, off at 6-1, returned $15 on a $2 win wager. She improved her career earnings to $505,030 and moved to 14: 4-5-2 for her career.

“She broke great. I felt like we had a good position,” Ortiz said. “I was following Flavien. When he made his move, I made mine outside of him and luckily we got the bob in the end. You see the form of this mare - she’s there every time. There’s not a day that she hasn’t shown up. I think she’d run on anything. She’s just a trier and she gives me confidence. I knew she was going to run great and it’s nice to ride a horse you know is going to give you 100 percent. Bill got her doing great and the owner is just great. I’m just so happy for everyone.”

Bubble Rock, trained by Brad Cox, was coming off a win in the License Fee and has finished first or second in each of her last four starts dating to a win in the Mrs. Revere (G2) in November at Churchill Downs that concluded her 2022 ledger.

“She broke in front nicely with no speed today,” Rosario said. “I was just cruising. I had time to get her inside and she got beat right there on the wire. She ran her race.”