Cape Blanco Outlasts Dean's Kitten in Turf Classic
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Odds-on favorite Cape Blanco narrowly
retained his unbeaten record in the United States, holding off longshot
Dean's Kitten to take the 35th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe
Hirsch Turf Classic on "Super Saturday" at Belmont Park.
A well-traveled 4-year-old, Cape Blanco shadowed Mission Approved in second placed through fractions of 52.42, 1:19.37, 1:44.92 and was put to a drive by jockey Jamie Spencer after dispatching the pacesetter midway on the second turn. The favorite took a clear lead into the stretch but was tested to the wire by Dean's Kitten, whose rally fell a nose short.
Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Cape Blanco completed 1 ½ miles on yielding turf in 2:36.61 and returned $3.20 for a $2 win wager as the 3-5 favorite.
"He's a tenacious horse and tries very hard," said Spencer. "The ground was very testing. It was sticky. His heart won it in the end. Whenever you ask him, he always finds more. I was glad to win, but the ground was totally against this horse. He wasn't handling the surface. This was also his first run in seven weeks. He's such a good horse with a big heart. That's why he won today. He needs room. He likes to get out and get galloping. He's got a big stride and he doesn't want his stride to get broken."
Cape Blanco, whose two Group 1 wins in his native country include a victory in last year's Irish Derby, now has made three successful trips to the U.S. in 2011. The son of Galileo came to Belmont in July to win the Grade 1 Man o' War by 2 ¼ lengths and returned to take the Grade 1 Arlington Million by 2 ½ lengths on August 13 at Arlington Park.
"I was a little bit nervous for a while," said Ashford Stud director of sales Charlie O'Connor, representing Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier, who own Cape Blanco in partnership with Mrs. Fitri Hay. "The ground was very soft, and it will just show you what a tough horse he is that he was still able to battle on and win. It was his third Grade 1 win over here, and it's fantastic."
O'Connor said Cape Blanco will return to Ireland tomorrow and likely will traverse the Atlantic once again to compete in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf on November 5 at Churchill Downs. The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic was a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Turf.
"I'd imagine [the Breeders' Cup Turf] will be the drill, but they'll bring him home and Aidan will see how he comes out of the race and Aidan will decide," said O'Connor. "He's done just another wonderful training job, and Jamie gave him a great ride under difficult conditions."
With the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic victory, Cape Blanco improved his record to 9-1-0 from 15 starts and earned $300,000 to lift his bankroll to $3,855,665.
Grassy was third, followed home by Mission Approved and Winchester.
A well-traveled 4-year-old, Cape Blanco shadowed Mission Approved in second placed through fractions of 52.42, 1:19.37, 1:44.92 and was put to a drive by jockey Jamie Spencer after dispatching the pacesetter midway on the second turn. The favorite took a clear lead into the stretch but was tested to the wire by Dean's Kitten, whose rally fell a nose short.
Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Cape Blanco completed 1 ½ miles on yielding turf in 2:36.61 and returned $3.20 for a $2 win wager as the 3-5 favorite.
"He's a tenacious horse and tries very hard," said Spencer. "The ground was very testing. It was sticky. His heart won it in the end. Whenever you ask him, he always finds more. I was glad to win, but the ground was totally against this horse. He wasn't handling the surface. This was also his first run in seven weeks. He's such a good horse with a big heart. That's why he won today. He needs room. He likes to get out and get galloping. He's got a big stride and he doesn't want his stride to get broken."
Cape Blanco, whose two Group 1 wins in his native country include a victory in last year's Irish Derby, now has made three successful trips to the U.S. in 2011. The son of Galileo came to Belmont in July to win the Grade 1 Man o' War by 2 ¼ lengths and returned to take the Grade 1 Arlington Million by 2 ½ lengths on August 13 at Arlington Park.
"I was a little bit nervous for a while," said Ashford Stud director of sales Charlie O'Connor, representing Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier, who own Cape Blanco in partnership with Mrs. Fitri Hay. "The ground was very soft, and it will just show you what a tough horse he is that he was still able to battle on and win. It was his third Grade 1 win over here, and it's fantastic."
O'Connor said Cape Blanco will return to Ireland tomorrow and likely will traverse the Atlantic once again to compete in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf on November 5 at Churchill Downs. The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic was a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Turf.
"I'd imagine [the Breeders' Cup Turf] will be the drill, but they'll bring him home and Aidan will see how he comes out of the race and Aidan will decide," said O'Connor. "He's done just another wonderful training job, and Jamie gave him a great ride under difficult conditions."
With the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic victory, Cape Blanco improved his record to 9-1-0 from 15 starts and earned $300,000 to lift his bankroll to $3,855,665.
Grassy was third, followed home by Mission Approved and Winchester.
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