Bribon Breaks Through

Having had a hand in the mating that produced him, we have to admit that we were disappointed to see Bribon (FR) finish third in last year’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Cigar Mile (gr. I). It wasn’t that one could fault the quality of his run – he flew through the stretch to finish third, beaten less than a length by Tale of Ekati and Harlem Rocker, after being stopped in his tracks when the luckless Wanderin Boy broke down in front of him – but the fact that he was a 5-year-old who was currently in the form of his life (he’d run a 118 Beyer earlier in the year, and came into the race off a 5 1/4-length win over the course and distance), and who might never again have such a good chance for grade I glory.