Interactif Wins Hall of Fame
Interactif prevailed in a thrilling three-horse drive to the wire Friday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course to win the 26th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes by a nose.
Ridden by Javier Castellano, the Broken Vow colt was wide in third through the early going as 10-1 shot Paris Vegas grabbed the lead from Krypton and led the field of six 3-year-olds through a half-mile in 48.58 and three-quarters in 1:12.94. Asked for more as the pacesetter faded, Interactif took off at the head of the lane to collar Krypton with a furlong to go, and the two battled to the finish with Interactif getting his nose down at the wire while holding off the furious late charge from Grand Rapport.
“Turning for home it looked like three horses were in it and it was going to be a good race; I’m very excited with the way he ran today,” said Castellano of Interactif, who covered the 1 1/8th miles over the firm inner turf in 1:48.34.
Krypton was a head back in third, followed by Nordic Truce, Citrus Hill Kid, and Paris Vegas. Colizeo, entered Main Track Only as part of an entry with Interactif, was scratched.
“On paper, it looked like a race that lacked a little pace,” said winning trainer Todd Pletcher, who trains Interactif for Wertheimer and Frere. “I didn’t expect the French horse [Paris Vegas] to be on the lead but it sort of worked out. He got carried pretty wide on the back side, but was able to drop in on the turn.”
Interactif, who in his previous start was second to Paddy O’Prado in the Grade 2 Virginia Derby, picked up his first victory of the year from six races, including a second in the Grade 2 San Felipe, a fourth in the Grade 1 Blue Grass and a seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes. Overall, he is 4-3-1 from 11 starts.
“He’s been ambitiously placed all year,” said Pletcher, noting that Interactif won the first stakes race of his career last summer at Saratoga in taking the Grade 3 With Anticipation. “It was about trying to find the right spot for him. We wanted to get back on track, and in the winner’s circle.”
The 4-5 favorite, Interactif returned $3.60 for a $2 win bet, and with the winner’s purse of $90,000 has now earned $563,350. He will next likely start in the Grade 1 Jamaica at Belmont Park on October 9, said Pletcher.